diff --git a/src/kits/interface/TextView.cpp b/src/kits/interface/TextView.cpp
index 37c4a75077..1c44d67081 100644
--- a/src/kits/interface/TextView.cpp
+++ b/src/kits/interface/TextView.cpp
@@ -1913,6 +1913,8 @@ BTextView::OffsetAt(BPoint point) const
 int32
 BTextView::OffsetAt(int32 line) const
 {
+	if (line < 0)
+		return 0;
 	if (line > fLines->NumLines())
 		return fText->Length();