diff --git a/hw/net/ne2000.c b/hw/net/ne2000.c
index e408083a58..f0feaf96b0 100644
--- a/hw/net/ne2000.c
+++ b/hw/net/ne2000.c
@@ -155,6 +155,10 @@ static int ne2000_buffer_full(NE2000State *s)
 {
     int avail, index, boundary;
 
+    if (s->stop <= s->start) {
+        return 1;
+    }
+
     index = s->curpag << 8;
     boundary = s->boundary << 8;
     if (index < boundary)