diff --git a/lib/Twig/Compiler.php b/lib/Twig/Compiler.php
index 5cd1b31c3..30cba80cf 100644
--- a/lib/Twig/Compiler.php
+++ b/lib/Twig/Compiler.php
@@ -239,12 +239,13 @@ class Twig_Compiler implements Twig_CompilerInterface
      */
     public function outdent($step = 1)
     {
-        $this->indentation -= $step;
-
-        if ($this->indentation < 0) {
+        // can't outdent by more steps that the current indentation level
+        if ($this->indentation < $step) {
             throw new Twig_Error('Unable to call outdent() as the indentation would become negative');
         }
 
+        $this->indentation -= $step;
+
         return $this;
     }
 }