diff --git a/src/basic/parse-util.c b/src/basic/parse-util.c
index 992ea3605b..2ab8e88451 100644
--- a/src/basic/parse-util.c
+++ b/src/basic/parse-util.c
@@ -728,6 +728,8 @@ int parse_permille_unbounded(const char *p) {
                 r = safe_atoi(n, &v);
                 if (r < 0)
                         return r;
+                if (v < 0)
+                        return -ERANGE;
         } else {
                 pc = endswith(p, "%");
                 if (!pc)
@@ -748,15 +750,14 @@ int parse_permille_unbounded(const char *p) {
                 r = safe_atoi(n, &v);
                 if (r < 0)
                         return r;
+                if (v < 0)
+                        return -ERANGE;
                 if (v > (INT_MAX - q) / 10)
                         return -ERANGE;
 
                 v = v * 10 + q;
         }
 
-        if (v < 0)
-                return -ERANGE;
-
         return v;
 }