diff --git a/jdk/src/share/classes/sun/tools/jconsole/JConsole.java b/jdk/src/share/classes/sun/tools/jconsole/JConsole.java
index 46d9504dc15..cdb78f94ec9 100644
--- a/jdk/src/share/classes/sun/tools/jconsole/JConsole.java
+++ b/jdk/src/share/classes/sun/tools/jconsole/JConsole.java
@@ -858,6 +858,10 @@ public class JConsole extends JFrame
                 try {
                     updateInterval = Integer.parseInt(arg.substring(10)) *
                         1000;
+                    if (updateInterval <= 0) {
+                        usage();
+                        return;
+                    }
                 } catch (NumberFormatException ex) {
                     usage();
                     return;