diff --git a/builder/qemu/builder.go b/builder/qemu/builder.go
index 7d42939a4..5ca3f555b 100644
--- a/builder/qemu/builder.go
+++ b/builder/qemu/builder.go
@@ -337,6 +337,10 @@ func (b *Builder) Prepare(raws ...interface{}) ([]string, error) {
 		errs = packer.MultiErrorAppend(
 			errs, errors.New("ssh_host_port_min must be less than ssh_host_port_max"))
 	}
+	if b.config.SSHHostPortMin < 0 {
+		errs = packer.MultiErrorAppend(
+			errs, errors.New("ssh_host_port_min must be positive"))
+	}
 
 	if b.config.VNCPortMin > b.config.VNCPortMax {
 		errs = packer.MultiErrorAppend(
diff --git a/builder/vmware/common/run_config.go b/builder/vmware/common/run_config.go
index e8b6a3d37..da9581427 100644
--- a/builder/vmware/common/run_config.go
+++ b/builder/vmware/common/run_config.go
@@ -31,6 +31,9 @@ func (c *RunConfig) Prepare(ctx *interpolate.Context) (errs []error) {
 	if c.VNCPortMin > c.VNCPortMax {
 		errs = append(errs, fmt.Errorf("vnc_port_min must be less than vnc_port_max"))
 	}
+	if c.VNCPortMin < 0 {
+		errs = append(errs, fmt.Errorf("vnc_port_min must be positive"))
+	}
 
 	return
 }