diff --git a/src/evalfunc.c b/src/evalfunc.c
index 7f7914e..fa27d0d 100644
--- a/src/evalfunc.c
+++ b/src/evalfunc.c
@@ -8646,7 +8646,10 @@
     list->lv_u.nonmat.lv_start = start;
     list->lv_u.nonmat.lv_end = end;
     list->lv_u.nonmat.lv_stride = stride;
-    list->lv_len = (end - start) / stride + 1;
+    if (stride > 0 ? end < start : end > start)
+	list->lv_len = 0;
+    else
+	list->lv_len = (end - start) / stride + 1;
 }
 
 /*