diff --git a/ethereumj-core/src/main/java/org/ethereum/vm/DataWord.java b/ethereumj-core/src/main/java/org/ethereum/vm/DataWord.java
index d7f9e6f5..e900674c 100644
--- a/ethereumj-core/src/main/java/org/ethereum/vm/DataWord.java
+++ b/ethereumj-core/src/main/java/org/ethereum/vm/DataWord.java
@@ -230,7 +230,7 @@ public class DataWord implements Comparable<DataWord> {
     // TODO: improve with no BigInteger
     public void sMod(DataWord word) {
 
-        if (word.isZero() || word.isNegative()) {
+        if (word.isZero()) {
             this.and(ZERO);
             return;
         }