diff --git a/include/xtensor/views/xslice.hpp b/include/xtensor/views/xslice.hpp
index d2142fb82..95882f65c 100644
--- a/include/xtensor/views/xslice.hpp
+++ b/include/xtensor/views/xslice.hpp
@@ -1059,7 +1059,7 @@ namespace xt
         , m_step(step)
     {
         size_type n = stop_val - start_val;
-        m_size = n / step + (((n < 0) ^ (step > 0)) && (n % step));
+        m_size = (n > 0) ^ (step > 0) ? 0 : n / step + static_cast<bool>(n % step);
     }
 
     template <class T>