diff --git a/builtins/fc.def b/builtins/fc.def
index c266ac2c..7f606c52 100644
--- a/builtins/fc.def
+++ b/builtins/fc.def
@@ -321,10 +321,7 @@ fc_builtin (list)
     while (last_hist >= 0 && hlist[last_hist] == 0)
       last_hist--;
   if (last_hist < 0)
-    {
-      sh_erange ((char *)NULL, _("history specification"));
-      return (EXECUTION_FAILURE);
-    }
+    last_hist = 0;
 
   if (list)
     {
@@ -353,12 +350,10 @@ fc_builtin (list)
 	histbeg = histend = last_hist;
     }
 
-  /* We print error messages for line specifications out of range. */
-  if ((histbeg < 0) || (histend < 0))
-    {
-      sh_erange ((char *)NULL, _("history specification"));
-      return (EXECUTION_FAILURE);
-    }
+  if (histbeg < 0)
+    histbeg = 0;
+  if (histend < 0)
+    histend = 0;
 
   /* "When not listing, the fc command that caused the editing shall not be
      entered into the history list." */
@@ -382,12 +377,10 @@ fc_builtin (list)
 	histbeg = last_hist;
     }
 
-  /* We print error messages for line specifications out of range. */
-  if ((histbeg < 0) || (histend < 0))
-    {
-      sh_erange ((char *)NULL, _("history specification"));
-      return (EXECUTION_FAILURE);
-    }
+  if (histbeg < 0)
+    histbeg = 0;
+  if (histend < 0)
+    histend = 0;
 
   if (histend < histbeg)
     {