diff --git a/src/oplog/log.js b/src/oplog/log.js
index 36cc977..506e414 100644
--- a/src/oplog/log.js
+++ b/src/oplog/log.js
@@ -434,7 +434,7 @@ const Log = async (identity, { logId, logHeads, access, entryStorage, headsStora
 
     if (useBuffer) {
       const endIndex = buffer.keys.length
-      const startIndex = endIndex - amount
+      const startIndex = endIndex > amount ? endIndex - amount : 0
       const keys = buffer.keys.slice(startIndex, endIndex)
       for (const key of keys) {
         const hash = buffer.get(key)