diff --git a/src/validation.cpp b/src/validation.cpp
index d7d880d24..9a00203e8 100644
--- a/src/validation.cpp
+++ b/src/validation.cpp
@@ -3573,9 +3573,7 @@ bool CVerifyDB::VerifyDB(const CChainParams& chainparams, CCoinsView *coinsview,
         return true;
 
     // Verify blocks in the best chain
-    if (nCheckDepth <= 0)
-        nCheckDepth = 1000000000; // suffices until the year 19000
-    if (nCheckDepth > chainActive.Height())
+    if (nCheckDepth <= 0 || nCheckDepth > chainActive.Height())
         nCheckDepth = chainActive.Height();
     nCheckLevel = std::max(0, std::min(4, nCheckLevel));
     LogPrintf("Verifying last %i blocks at level %i\n", nCheckDepth, nCheckLevel);