diff -r 9e5407a67dea -r 9a96efc4af8a mercurial/util.py
--- a/mercurial/util.py	Tue Apr 05 12:40:47 2011 +0800
+++ b/mercurial/util.py	Tue Apr 05 16:55:47 2011 +0800
@@ -1209,6 +1209,9 @@
             days = int(date[1:])
         except ValueError:
             raise Abort(_("invalid day spec: %s") % date[1:])
+        if days < 0:
+            raise Abort(_("%s must be nonnegative (see 'hg help dates')")
+                % date[1:])
         when = makedate()[0] - days * 3600 * 24
         return lambda x: x >= when
     elif " to " in date: