diff --git a/source/java/org/alfresco/rest/framework/resource/parameters/Paging.java b/source/java/org/alfresco/rest/framework/resource/parameters/Paging.java
index e4797938d4..3f4db5f3d7 100644
--- a/source/java/org/alfresco/rest/framework/resource/parameters/Paging.java
+++ b/source/java/org/alfresco/rest/framework/resource/parameters/Paging.java
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ import org.alfresco.rest.framework.core.exceptions.InvalidArgumentException;
  * skipCount - How many entries exist in the entire collection before those included in the list<br/>
  * maxItems - The maximum number of items the client requires. Defaults to 100.
  * 
- * @author Gethin James
+ * @author Gethin James, Martin Muller (mmuller)
  */
 public class Paging
 {
@@ -49,11 +49,11 @@ public class Paging
         super();
         if(skipCount < 0)
         {
-        	throw new InvalidArgumentException();
+        	throw new InvalidArgumentException("Negative values not supported for skipCount.");
         }
         if(maxItems < 1)
         {
-        	throw new InvalidArgumentException();
+        	throw new InvalidArgumentException("Only positive values supported for maxItems.");
         }
         this.skipCount = skipCount;
         this.maxItems = maxItems;
diff --git a/source/java/org/alfresco/rest/framework/webscripts/ResourceWebScriptHelper.java b/source/java/org/alfresco/rest/framework/webscripts/ResourceWebScriptHelper.java
index df1b194412..3174c10229 100644
--- a/source/java/org/alfresco/rest/framework/webscripts/ResourceWebScriptHelper.java
+++ b/source/java/org/alfresco/rest/framework/webscripts/ResourceWebScriptHelper.java
@@ -787,9 +787,13 @@ public class ResourceWebScriptHelper
         {
             if (skip != null) { skipped = Integer.parseInt(skip);}
             if (maxItems != null) { max = Integer.parseInt(maxItems); }
-            if (max < 0 || skipped < 0)
+            if (skipped < 0)
             {
-                throw new InvalidArgumentException("Negative values not supported.");  
+                throw new InvalidArgumentException("Negative values not supported for skipCount.");
+            }
+            if (max < 1)
+            {
+                throw new InvalidArgumentException("Only positive values supported for maxItems.");
             }
         }
         catch (NumberFormatException error)