diff --git a/block/qcow2-refcount.c b/block/qcow2-refcount.c
index c974abe795..8712d8bd54 100644
--- a/block/qcow2-refcount.c
+++ b/block/qcow2-refcount.c
@@ -676,7 +676,13 @@ int qcow2_alloc_clusters_at(BlockDriverState *bs, uint64_t offset,
     BDRVQcowState *s = bs->opaque;
     uint64_t cluster_index;
     uint64_t old_free_cluster_index;
-    int i, refcount, ret;
+    uint64_t i;
+    int refcount, ret;
+
+    assert(nb_clusters >= 0);
+    if (nb_clusters == 0) {
+        return 0;
+    }
 
     /* Check how many clusters there are free */
     cluster_index = offset >> s->cluster_bits;