diff --git a/jedi/api/classes.py b/jedi/api/classes.py
index e67b64ac..15a40696 100644
--- a/jedi/api/classes.py
+++ b/jedi/api/classes.py
@@ -394,7 +394,7 @@ class BaseDefinition(object):
         lines = parser_cache[self._evaluator.grammar._hashed][path].lines
 
         line_nr = self._name.start_pos[0]
-        start_line_nr = line_nr - before
+        start_line_nr = max(line_nr - before, 0)
         return ''.join(lines[start_line_nr:line_nr + after + 1])
 
 
diff --git a/test/test_api/test_api.py b/test/test_api/test_api.py
index dd5ed6fb..767d1818 100644
--- a/test/test_api/test_api.py
+++ b/test/test_api/test_api.py
@@ -171,6 +171,9 @@ def test_get_line_code():
     assert get_line_code(source, line=2) == line + '\n'
     assert get_line_code(source, line=2, after=1) == line + '\nother_line'
     assert get_line_code(source, line=2, after=1, before=1) == source
+    # Should just be the whole thing, since there are no more lines on both
+    # sides.
+    assert get_line_code(source, line=2, after=3, before=3) == source
 
 
 def test_goto_assignments_follow_imports():