diff --git a/source/RobotAPI/components/units/ObstacleAwarePlatformUnit/ObstacleAwarePlatformUnit.cpp b/source/RobotAPI/components/units/ObstacleAwarePlatformUnit/ObstacleAwarePlatformUnit.cpp
index 2acb4a23b423df17ca7f80ffc76251634bcb933f..fd1ee293d4100b00a0cd4ad531e4cb0c1010d43b 100644
--- a/source/RobotAPI/components/units/ObstacleAwarePlatformUnit/ObstacleAwarePlatformUnit.cpp
+++ b/source/RobotAPI/components/units/ObstacleAwarePlatformUnit/ObstacleAwarePlatformUnit.cpp
@@ -230,10 +230,14 @@ armarx::ObstacleAwarePlatformUnit::moveRelative(
 
 void
 armarx::ObstacleAwarePlatformUnit::setMaxVelocities(
-    const float max_pos_vel,
-    const float max_rot_vel,
+    float max_pos_vel,
+    float max_rot_vel,
     const Ice::Current&)
 {
+    // ensure positiveness
+    max_pos_vel = std::max(max_pos_vel, 0.F);
+    max_rot_vel = std::max(max_rot_vel, 0.F);
+
     std::scoped_lock l{m_control_data.mutex};
     m_control_data.max_vel = max_pos_vel;
     m_control_data.max_rot_vel = max_rot_vel;