diff --git a/source/java/org/alfresco/rest/framework/tools/RecognizedParamsExtractor.java b/source/java/org/alfresco/rest/framework/tools/RecognizedParamsExtractor.java
index c9cd7f76ab..34304ae07c 100644
--- a/source/java/org/alfresco/rest/framework/tools/RecognizedParamsExtractor.java
+++ b/source/java/org/alfresco/rest/framework/tools/RecognizedParamsExtractor.java
@@ -345,9 +345,13 @@ public interface RecognizedParamsExtractor
         {
             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)