diff --git a/eth/backend.go b/eth/backend.go
index 9334ee7b61..a3aafc5e0b 100644
--- a/eth/backend.go
+++ b/eth/backend.go
@@ -476,7 +476,7 @@ func (s *Ethereum) Start() error {
 		ProtocolVersion: ProtocolVersion,
 	})
 
-	if s.net.MaxPeers > 0 {
+	if s.net.MaxPeers >= 0 {
 		err := s.net.Start()
 		if err != nil {
 			return err
diff --git a/p2p/server.go b/p2p/server.go
index 8f768bdffe..eca66243dc 100644
--- a/p2p/server.go
+++ b/p2p/server.go
@@ -212,7 +212,7 @@ func (srv *Server) Start() (err error) {
 	if srv.PrivateKey == nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("Server.PrivateKey must be set to a non-nil key")
 	}
-	if srv.MaxPeers <= 0 {
+	if srv.MaxPeers < 0 {
 		return fmt.Errorf("Server.MaxPeers must be > 0")
 	}
 	srv.quit = make(chan struct{})