diff --git a/src/engine/sample.cpp b/src/engine/sample.cpp
index 624337a68..e506321d1 100644
--- a/src/engine/sample.cpp
+++ b/src/engine/sample.cpp
@@ -543,7 +543,11 @@ bool DivSample::saveRaw(const char* path) {
 }
 
 // 16-bit memory is padded to 512, to make things easier for ADPCM-A/B.
-bool DivSample::initInternal(DivSampleDepth d, unsigned int count) {
+bool DivSample::initInternal(DivSampleDepth d, int count) {
+  if (count<0) {
+    logE("initInternal(%d,%d) - NEGATIVE!",(int)d,count);
+    return false;
+  }
   logV("initInternal(%d,%d)",(int)d,count);
   switch (d) {
     case DIV_SAMPLE_DEPTH_1BIT: // 1-bit
@@ -650,8 +654,11 @@ bool DivSample::initInternal(DivSampleDepth d, unsigned int count) {
   return true;
 }
 
-bool DivSample::init(unsigned int count) {
-  if (count>16777215) return false;
+bool DivSample::init(int count) {
+  if (count<0 || count>16777215) {
+    logE("tried to init sample with length %d!",count);
+    return false;
+  }
   if (!initInternal(depth,count)) return false;
   setSampleCount(count);
   return true;
diff --git a/src/engine/sample.h b/src/engine/sample.h
index c671f95d4..609520c7e 100644
--- a/src/engine/sample.h
+++ b/src/engine/sample.h
@@ -236,14 +236,14 @@ struct DivSample {
    * @param count number of samples.
    * @return whether it was successful.
    */
-  bool initInternal(DivSampleDepth d, unsigned int count);
+  bool initInternal(DivSampleDepth d, int count);
 
   /**
    * initialize sample data. make sure you have set `depth` before doing so.
    * @param count number of samples.
    * @return whether it was successful.
    */
-  bool init(unsigned int count);
+  bool init(int count);
 
   /**
    * resize sample data. make sure the sample has been initialized before doing so.