diff --git a/lisp/color.el b/lisp/color.el
index f68cf5e6b17..a251b1a24a0 100644
--- a/lisp/color.el
+++ b/lisp/color.el
@@ -407,7 +407,7 @@ color-lighten-hsl
 Given a color defined in terms of hue, saturation, and luminance
 \(arguments H, S, and L), return a color that is PERCENT lighter.
 Returns a list (HUE SATURATION LUMINANCE)."
-  (list H S (color-clamp (+ L (* L (/ percent 100.0))))))
+  (list H S (color-clamp (+ L (* (if (> L 0) L 1) (/ percent 100.0))))))

 (defun color-lighten-name (name percent)
   "Make a color with a specified NAME lighter by PERCENT.