diff --git a/pkg/yqlib/operator_slice.go b/pkg/yqlib/operator_slice.go
index 42606134..363322d0 100644
--- a/pkg/yqlib/operator_slice.go
+++ b/pkg/yqlib/operator_slice.go
@@ -16,6 +16,21 @@ func getSliceNumber(d *dataTreeNavigator, context Context, node *CandidateNode,
 	return parseInt(result.MatchingNodes.Front().Value.(*CandidateNode).Value)
 }
 
+// clampSliceIndex resolves a possibly-negative slice index against
+// length and clamps the result to [0, length].
+func clampSliceIndex(index, length int) int {
+	if index < 0 {
+		index += length
+	}
+	if index < 0 {
+		return 0
+	}
+	if index > length {
+		return length
+	}
+	return index
+}
+
 func sliceArrayOperator(d *dataTreeNavigator, context Context, expressionNode *ExpressionNode) (Context, error) {
 
 	log.Debug("slice array operator!")
@@ -32,22 +47,13 @@ func sliceArrayOperator(d *dataTreeNavigator, context Context, expressionNode *E
 		if err != nil {
 			return Context{}, err
 		}
-		relativeFirstNumber := firstNumber
-		if relativeFirstNumber < 0 {
-			relativeFirstNumber = len(lhsNode.Content) + firstNumber
-		}
+		relativeFirstNumber := clampSliceIndex(firstNumber, len(lhsNode.Content))
 
 		secondNumber, err := getSliceNumber(d, context, lhsNode, expressionNode.RHS)
 		if err != nil {
 			return Context{}, err
 		}
-
-		relativeSecondNumber := secondNumber
-		if relativeSecondNumber < 0 {
-			relativeSecondNumber = len(lhsNode.Content) + secondNumber
-		} else if relativeSecondNumber > len(lhsNode.Content) {
-			relativeSecondNumber = len(lhsNode.Content)
-		}
+		relativeSecondNumber := clampSliceIndex(secondNumber, len(lhsNode.Content))
 
 		log.Debugf("calculateIndicesToTraverse: slice from %v to %v", relativeFirstNumber, relativeSecondNumber)
 
diff --git a/pkg/yqlib/operator_slice_test.go b/pkg/yqlib/operator_slice_test.go
index 29a821eb..c06bf44e 100644
--- a/pkg/yqlib/operator_slice_test.go
+++ b/pkg/yqlib/operator_slice_test.go
@@ -98,6 +98,37 @@ var sliceArrayScenarios = []expressionScenario{
 			"D0, P[], (!!seq)::- cat1\n",
 		},
 	},
+	{
+		// Regression test for https://issues.oss-fuzz.com/issues/438776028
+		// Negative second index that underflows after adjustment must
+		// clamp to zero, yielding an empty sequence.
+		skipDoc:    true,
+		document:   `[a, b, c]`,
+		expression: `.[0:-99999]`,
+		expected: []string{
+			"D0, P[], (!!seq)::[]\n",
+		},
+	},
+	{
+		// First-index underflow: without clamping, the loop starts at a
+		// negative index and panics on Content access.
+		skipDoc:    true,
+		document:   `[a, b, c]`,
+		expression: `.[-99999:3]`,
+		expected: []string{
+			"D0, P[], (!!seq)::- a\n- b\n- c\n",
+		},
+	},
+	{
+		// Both indices underflow: both clamp to zero, yielding an empty
+		// sequence.
+		skipDoc:    true,
+		document:   `[a, b, c]`,
+		expression: `.[-99999:-99998]`,
+		expected: []string{
+			"D0, P[], (!!seq)::[]\n",
+		},
+	},
 }
 
 func TestSliceOperatorScenarios(t *testing.T) {