diff --git a/elab_expr.cc b/elab_expr.cc
index b8ea451b3..b1364b281 100644
--- a/elab_expr.cc
+++ b/elab_expr.cc
@@ -1932,15 +1932,18 @@ bool PEIdent::calculate_up_do_width_(Design*des, NetScope*scope,
       need_constant_expr = false;
       NetEConst*wid_c = dynamic_cast<NetEConst*>(wid_ex);
 
-      if (wid_c == 0) {
-	    cerr << get_fileline() << ": error: Indexed part width must be "
-		 << "constant. Expression in question is..." << endl;
-	    cerr << get_fileline() << ":      : " << *wid_ex << endl;
+      wid = wid_c? wid_c->value().as_ulong() : 0;
+      if (wid == 0) {
+	    cerr << index_tail.lsb->get_fileline() << ": error: "
+		  "Indexed part widths must be constant and greater than zero."
+		 << endl;
+	    cerr << index_tail.lsb->get_fileline() << ":      : "
+		  "This part width expression violates the rule: "
+		 << *index_tail.lsb << endl;
 	    des->errors += 1;
 	    flag = false;
+	    wid = 1;
       }
-
-      wid = wid_c? wid_c->value().as_ulong() : 1;
       delete wid_ex;
 
       return flag;
diff --git a/expr_synth.cc b/expr_synth.cc
index 36908c9ad..8d5a3a9ee 100644
--- a/expr_synth.cc
+++ b/expr_synth.cc
@@ -1048,6 +1048,7 @@ NetNet* NetESelect::synthesize(Design *des, NetScope*scope, NetExpr*root)
 						  NetPartSelect::VP);
 	    des->add_node(sel);
 
+	    ivl_assert(*this, select_width > 0);
 	    NetNet*tmp = new NetNet(scope, scope->local_symbol(),
 				    NetNet::WIRE, select_width);
 	    tmp->data_type(sub->data_type());