diff --git a/src/list.c b/src/list.c
index 484ce74..2af3085 100644
--- a/src/list.c
+++ b/src/list.c
@@ -531,6 +531,26 @@
 }
 
 /*
+ * Like list_find() but when a negative index is used that is not found use
+ * zero and set "idx" to zero.  Used for first index of a range.
+ */
+    listitem_T *
+list_find_index(list_T *l, long *idx)
+{
+    listitem_T *li = list_find(l, *idx);
+
+    if (li == NULL)
+    {
+	if (*idx < 0)
+	{
+	    *idx = 0;
+	    li = list_find(l, *idx);
+	}
+    }
+    return li;
+}
+
+/*
  * Locate "item" list "l" and return its index.
  * Returns -1 when "item" is not in the list.
  */