diff --git a/runtime/src/jet/IntRange.java b/runtime/src/jet/IntRange.java
index 2d84304fcfd..e53f28bc95c 100644
--- a/runtime/src/jet/IntRange.java
+++ b/runtime/src/jet/IntRange.java
@@ -32,9 +32,13 @@ public final class IntRange implements Range<Integer>, IntIterable {
 
     @Override
     public String toString() {
-        if (count >= 0) {
+        if (count == 0) {
+            return "<empty range>";
+        }
+        else if (count > 0) {
             return getStart() + ".rangeTo(" + getEnd() + ")";
-        } else {
+        }
+        else {
             return getStart() + ".downTo(" + getEnd() + ")";
         }
     }