diff --git a/src/libsystemd/sd-journal/journal-file.c b/src/libsystemd/sd-journal/journal-file.c
index c9ff6abca6..d3ce5fa7ec 100644
--- a/src/libsystemd/sd-journal/journal-file.c
+++ b/src/libsystemd/sd-journal/journal-file.c
@@ -3047,7 +3047,7 @@ static int generic_array_bisect(
                 left = 0;
                 right = m - 1;
 
-                if (direction == DIRECTION_UP) {
+                if (direction == DIRECTION_UP && left < right) {
                         /* If we're going upwards, the last entry of the previous array may pass the test,
                          * and the first entry of the current array may not pass. In that case, the last
                          * entry of the previous array must be returned. Hence, we need to test the first