diff --git a/lib/icingadb/redisconnection.hpp b/lib/icingadb/redisconnection.hpp
index 0a9bfd61d..608b11e0d 100644
--- a/lib/icingadb/redisconnection.hpp
+++ b/lib/icingadb/redisconnection.hpp
@@ -555,12 +555,12 @@ Value RedisConnection::ReadRESP(AsyncReadStream& stream, boost::asio::yield_cont
 					throw BadRedisInt(std::move(buf));
 				}
 
-				Array::Ptr arr = new Array();
-
 				if (i < 0) {
-					i = 0;
+					return Empty;
 				}
 
+				Array::Ptr arr = new Array();
+
 				arr->Reserve(i);
 
 				for (; i; --i) {