diff --git a/modules/lang/emacs-lisp/config.el b/modules/lang/emacs-lisp/config.el
index 1a97e1c27..4de223f83 100644
--- a/modules/lang/emacs-lisp/config.el
+++ b/modules/lang/emacs-lisp/config.el
@@ -105,7 +105,7 @@ employed so that flycheck still does *some* helpful linting.")
                      (str (symbol-value sym))
                      (str (prin1-to-string str))
                      (limit (- (frame-width) (length ret) (length truncated) 1)))
-                (format (format "%%0.%ds%%s" limit)
+                (format (format "%%0.%ds%%s" (min limit 0))
                         (propertize str 'face 'warning)
                         (if (< (length str) limit) "" truncated))))))