diff --git a/zic.c b/zic.c
index 66bd99c..5fa991f 100644
--- a/zic.c
+++ b/zic.c
@@ -120,8 +120,10 @@ static int		errors;
 static const char *	filename;
 static int		leapcnt;
 static int		linenum;
+static int		max_int;
 static time_t		max_time;
 static int		max_year;
+static int		min_int;
 static time_t		min_time;
 static int		min_year;
 static int		noise;
@@ -565,6 +567,7 @@ static void
 setboundaries()
 {
 	register time_t	bit;
+	register int bii;
 
 	for (bit = 1; bit > 0; bit <<= 1)
 		;
@@ -585,6 +588,11 @@ setboundaries()
 	}
 	min_year = TM_YEAR_BASE + gmtime(&min_time)->tm_year;
 	max_year = TM_YEAR_BASE + gmtime(&max_time)->tm_year;
+
+	for (bii = 1; bii > 0; bii <<= 1)
+		;
+	min_int = bii;
+	max_int = -1 - bii;
 }
 
 static int
@@ -1129,10 +1137,10 @@ char * const			timep;
 	cp = loyearp;
 	if ((lp = byword(cp, begin_years)) != NULL) switch ((int) lp->l_value) {
 		case YR_MINIMUM:
-			rp->r_loyear = min_year;
+			rp->r_loyear = min_int;
 			break;
 		case YR_MAXIMUM:
-			rp->r_loyear = max_year;
+			rp->r_loyear = max_int;
 			break;
 		default:	/* "cannot happen" */
 			(void) fprintf(stderr,
@@ -1146,10 +1154,10 @@ char * const			timep;
 	cp = hiyearp;
 	if ((lp = byword(cp, end_years)) != NULL) switch ((int) lp->l_value) {
 		case YR_MINIMUM:
-			rp->r_hiyear = min_year;
+			rp->r_hiyear = min_int;
 			break;
 		case YR_MAXIMUM:
-			rp->r_hiyear = max_year;
+			rp->r_hiyear = max_int;
 			break;
 		case YR_ONLY:
 			rp->r_hiyear = rp->r_loyear;
@@ -1778,6 +1786,10 @@ register const int			wantedy;
 	register long	dayoff;			/* with a nod to Margaret O. */
 	register time_t	t;
 
+	if (wantedy == min_int)
+		return min_time;
+	if (wantedy == max_int)
+		return max_time;
 	dayoff = 0;
 	m = TM_JANUARY;
 	y = EPOCH_YEAR;