diff --git a/opm/core/wells/WellsGroup.cpp b/opm/core/wells/WellsGroup.cpp
index 7b2beb340..3fabba3b7 100644
--- a/opm/core/wells/WellsGroup.cpp
+++ b/opm/core/wells/WellsGroup.cpp
@@ -788,7 +788,7 @@ namespace Opm
         }
 
         // the rates left for the wells under group control to split
-        const double rate_for_group_control = target_rate - rate_individual_control;
+        const double rate_for_group_control = std::max(target_rate - rate_individual_control, 0.0);
 
         const double my_guide_rate = productionGuideRate(true);