diff --git a/writerperfect/source/common/WPXSvInputStream.cxx b/writerperfect/source/common/WPXSvInputStream.cxx
index 1f68b6810f76..0767e94d263e 100644
--- a/writerperfect/source/common/WPXSvInputStream.cxx
+++ b/writerperfect/source/common/WPXSvInputStream.cxx
@@ -739,7 +739,10 @@ WPXSvInputStream::~WPXSvInputStream() {}
 
 long WPXSvInputStream::tell()
 {
+    // coverity[tainted_data_return : FALSE] retVal is considered safe now
     tools::Long retVal = tellImpl();
+    if (retVal < 0)
+        return -1;
     return retVal + static_cast<tools::Long>(mnReadBufferPos);
 }