diff --git a/core/src/consensus.rs b/core/src/consensus.rs
index 70d5d8c3b..a6d0ef841 100644
--- a/core/src/consensus.rs
+++ b/core/src/consensus.rs
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ pub const REWARD: u64 = BLOCK_TIME_SEC * GRIN_BASE;
 
 /// Actual block reward for a given total fee amount
 pub fn reward(fee: u64) -> u64 {
-	REWARD + fee
+	REWARD.saturating_add(fee)
 }
 
 /// Nominal height for standard time intervals, hour is 60 blocks