diff --git a/src/db/db/dbFillTool.cc b/src/db/db/dbFillTool.cc
index b562ea5cb..f6534abdf 100644
--- a/src/db/db/dbFillTool.cc
+++ b/src/db/db/dbFillTool.cc
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ public:
     db::Box fp_bbox = fp.box ();
 
     //  compensate for distortion by sheared kernel
-    fp_bbox.enlarge (db::Vector (m_column_step.x () * m_column_steps, m_row_step.y () * m_row_steps));
+    fp_bbox.enlarge (db::Vector (std::abs (db::Coord (m_column_step.x () * m_column_steps)), std::abs (db::Coord (m_row_step.y () * m_row_steps))));
 
     int columns_per_rows = (int (m_row_steps) * m_row_step.y ()) / dy;
     int rows_per_columns = (int (m_column_steps) * m_column_step.x ()) / dx;