diff --git a/src/debugger/cli-debugger.c b/src/debugger/cli-debugger.c
index 7c827905a..a03011654 100644
--- a/src/debugger/cli-debugger.c
+++ b/src/debugger/cli-debugger.c
@@ -726,10 +726,14 @@ static void _listWatchpoints(struct CLIDebugger* debugger, struct CLIDebugVector
 }
 
 static void _trace(struct CLIDebugger* debugger, struct CLIDebugVector* dv) {
-	if (!dv || dv->type != CLIDV_INT_TYPE) {
+	if (!dv) {
 		debugger->backend->printf(debugger->backend, "%s\n", ERROR_MISSING_ARGS);
 		return;
 	}
+	if (dv->type != CLIDV_INT_TYPE || dv->intValue < 0) {
+		debugger->backend->printf(debugger->backend, "%s\n", ERROR_INVALID_ARGS);
+		return;
+	}
 
 	debugger->traceRemaining = dv->intValue;
 	if (debugger->traceVf) {