diff --git a/ctree.c b/ctree.c
index 848722c6..1778a51b 100644
--- a/ctree.c
+++ b/ctree.c
@@ -1960,7 +1960,7 @@ static int push_leaf_left(struct btrfs_trans_handle *trans, struct btrfs_root
 		     btrfs_item_offset_nr(right, push_items - 1),
 		     push_space);
 	old_left_nritems = btrfs_header_nritems(left);
-	BUG_ON(old_left_nritems < 0);
+	BUG_ON(old_left_nritems == 0);
 
 	old_left_item_size = btrfs_item_offset_nr(left, old_left_nritems - 1);
 	for (i = old_left_nritems; i < old_left_nritems + push_items; i++) {