diff --git a/artiq/gui/entries.py b/artiq/gui/entries.py
index 7e5e80916..b63be3902 100644
--- a/artiq/gui/entries.py
+++ b/artiq/gui/entries.py
@@ -100,6 +100,17 @@ class NumberEntryInt(QtWidgets.QSpinBox):
         if "default" in procdesc:
             return procdesc["default"]
         else:
+            have_max = "max" in procdesc and procdesc["max"] is not None
+            have_min = "min" in procdesc and procdesc["min"] is not None
+            if have_max and have_min:
+                if procdesc["min"] <= 0 < procdesc["max"]:
+                    return 0
+            elif have_min and not have_max:
+                if procdesc["min"] >= 0:
+                    return procdesc["min"]
+            elif not have_min and have_max:
+                if procdesc["max"] < 0:
+                    return procdesc["max"]
             return 0