diff --git a/include/verilated_types.h b/include/verilated_types.h
index bbda7da92..8a1d73df8 100644
--- a/include/verilated_types.h
+++ b/include/verilated_types.h
@@ -621,11 +621,13 @@ public:
     T_Value& atWriteAppend(int32_t index) {
         // cppcheck-suppress variableScope
         static thread_local T_Value t_throwAway;
-        if (VL_UNLIKELY(index < 0 || index > m_deque.size())) {
+        if (VL_UNLIKELY(index < 0 || index >= m_deque.size())) {
+            if (index == m_deque.size()) {
+                push_back(atDefault());
+                return m_deque[index];
+            }
             t_throwAway = atDefault();
             return t_throwAway;
-        } else if (VL_UNLIKELY(index == m_deque.size())) {
-            push_back(atDefault());
         }
         return m_deque[index];
     }