diff --git a/pcre2/src/pcre2test.c b/pcre2/src/pcre2test.c
index 84987d79f30f0f46c5b1d95e6c6de69fe3bf9f4b..0ab6739196ec5088335d3b0e8c2993b675a99ac4 100644
--- a/pcre2/src/pcre2test.c
+++ b/pcre2/src/pcre2test.c
@@ -6766,9 +6766,9 @@ while ((c = *p++) != 0)
       }
 
     i = (int32_t)li;
-    if (i-- == 0)
+    if (i-- <= 0)
       {
-      fprintf(outfile, "** Zero repeat not allowed\n");
+      fprintf(outfile, "** Zero or negative repeat not allowed\n");
       return PR_OK;
       }