diff --git a/src/mixer.c b/src/mixer.c
index a8a48c77c..d26a6f1d3 100644
--- a/src/mixer.c
+++ b/src/mixer.c
@@ -1051,6 +1051,8 @@ void Mix_ChannelFinished(void (SDLCALL *channel_finished)(int channel))
  */
 int Mix_ReserveChannels(int num)
 {
+    if (num < 0)
+        num = 0;
     if (num > num_channels)
         num = num_channels;
     reserved_channels = num;