diff --git a/editeng/source/items/paraitem.cxx b/editeng/source/items/paraitem.cxx
index f67ddf599b06..054fc586d1e3 100644
--- a/editeng/source/items/paraitem.cxx
+++ b/editeng/source/items/paraitem.cxx
@@ -977,7 +977,7 @@ bool SvxTabStopItem::PutValue( const uno::Any& rVal, sal_uInt8 nMemberId )
                 return false;
             if (bConvert)
                 nNewDefaultDistance = o3tl::toTwips(nNewDefaultDistance, o3tl::Length::mm100);
-            if (nNewDefaultDistance <= 0)
+            if (nNewDefaultDistance < 0)
                 return false;
             mnDefaultDistance = nNewDefaultDistance;
             break;