diff --git a/lib/utils/util.js b/lib/utils/util.js
index 97217940..c51c9e2b 100644
--- a/lib/utils/util.js
+++ b/lib/utils/util.js
@@ -865,7 +865,10 @@ util.fromFixed = function fromFixed(str, exp) {
   while (lo.length < exp)
     lo += '0';
 
-  assert(/^\d*$/.test(hi) && /^\d*$/.test(lo),
+  if (lo.length === 0)
+    lo = '0';
+
+  assert(/^\d+$/.test(hi) && /^\d+$/.test(lo),
     'Non-numeric characters in fixed number string.');
 
   hi = parseInt(hi, 10);