diff --git a/math/dec.go b/math/dec.go
index 3123f8d7ae..844b3039af 100644
--- a/math/dec.go
+++ b/math/dec.go
@@ -69,6 +69,10 @@ func LegacySmallestDec() LegacyDec { return LegacyDec{new(big.Int).Set(oneInt)}
 
 // calculate the precision multiplier
 func calcPrecisionMultiplier(prec int64) *big.Int {
+	if prec < 0 {
+		panic(fmt.Sprintf("negative precision %v", prec))
+	}
+
 	if prec > LegacyPrecision {
 		panic(fmt.Sprintf("too much precision, maximum %v, provided %v", LegacyPrecision, prec))
 	}
@@ -79,6 +83,10 @@ func calcPrecisionMultiplier(prec int64) *big.Int {
 
 // get the precision multiplier, do not mutate result
 func precisionMultiplier(prec int64) *big.Int {
+	if prec < 0 {
+		panic(fmt.Sprintf("negative precision %v", prec))
+	}
+
 	if prec > LegacyPrecision {
 		panic(fmt.Sprintf("too much precision, maximum %v, provided %v", LegacyPrecision, prec))
 	}
diff --git a/math/dec_test.go b/math/dec_test.go
index a58ba7769d..ae897c3ba8 100644
--- a/math/dec_test.go
+++ b/math/dec_test.go
@@ -714,3 +714,9 @@ func TestFormatDecNonDigits(t *testing.T) {
 		})
 	}
 }
+
+func TestNegativePrecisionPanic(t *testing.T) {
+	require.Panics(t, func() {
+		math.LegacyNewDecWithPrec(10, -1)
+	})
+}