diff --git a/prompting/rewards/multi_choice.py b/prompting/rewards/multi_choice.py
index e2cdc1c2..04c927dd 100644
--- a/prompting/rewards/multi_choice.py
+++ b/prompting/rewards/multi_choice.py
@@ -40,6 +40,9 @@ def process_predictions(self, predictions: dict[str, float]) -> dict[str, float]
             self.choice_map[k.lower()]: float(v) for k, v in predictions.items() if k.lower() in self.choice_map
         }
 
+        if any(v < 0 for v in valid_choices.values()):
+            raise ValueError(f"Negative values are not allowed: {valid_choices}")
+
         total = sum(valid_choices.values())
         if np.isclose(total, 0.0):
             raise ValueError(f"Values sum up to 0, total={total}")
diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index 4f92dca9..06b81475 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 [tool.poetry]
 name = "prompting"
-version = "2.17.5"
+version = "2.17.6"
 description = "Subnetwork 1 runs on Bittensor and is maintained by Macrocosmos. It's an effort to create decentralised AI"
 authors = ["Kalei Brady, Dmytro Bobrenko, Felix Quinque, Steffen Cruz, Richard Wardle"]
 readme = "README.md"