diff --git a/lib/bcoin/utils.js b/lib/bcoin/utils.js
index 50b6282e..bd05fc16 100644
--- a/lib/bcoin/utils.js
+++ b/lib/bcoin/utils.js
@@ -1278,31 +1278,6 @@ utils.nonce = function nonce() {
 // IN THE SOFTWARE.
 //
 
-/**
- * Test whether a script number is negative zero.
- * @param {Buffer} bytes
- * @param {String} order - `le` or `be`.
- * @returns {Boolean}
- */
-
-utils.isNegZero = function isNegZero(bytes, order) {
-  var s = 0;
-  var b, res;
-
-  if (order === 'le')
-    s = bytes.length - 1;
-
-  if (bytes[s] & 0x80) {
-    b = bytes[s];
-    bytes[s] &= ~0x80;
-    res = new bn(bytes, order).cmpn(0) === 0;
-    bytes[s] = b;
-    return res;
-  }
-
-  return false;
-};
-
 /**
  * Read uint8.
  * @param {Buffer} arr
@@ -1487,14 +1462,8 @@ utils.read64 = function read64(arr, off) {
 
   num = arr.slice(off, off + 8);
 
-  // If we are signed, do (~num + 1) to get
-  // the positive counterpart and set bn's
-  // negative flag.
-  if (num[num.length - 1] & 0x80) {
-    if (utils.isNegZero(num, 'le'))
-      return new bn(0);
+  if (num[num.length - 1] & 0x80)
     return new bn(num, 'le').notn(64).addn(1).neg();
-  }
 
   return new bn(num, 'le');
 };
@@ -1513,14 +1482,8 @@ utils.read64BE = function read64BE(arr, off) {
 
   num = arr.slice(off, off + 8);
 
-  // If we are signed, do (~num + 1) to get
-  // the positive counterpart and set bn's
-  // negative flag.
-  if (num[0] & 0x80) {
-    if (utils.isNegZero(num, 'be'))
-      return new bn(0);
+  if (num[0] & 0x80)
     return new bn(num, 'be').notn(64).addn(1).neg();
-  }
 
   return new bn(num, 'be');
 };
@@ -1980,14 +1943,8 @@ utils.write64 = function write64(dst, num, off) {
 
   off = off >>> 0;
 
-  // Convert the number to the
-  // negative byte representation.
-  if (num.isNeg()) {
-    if (num.cmpn(0) === 0)
-      num = new bn(0);
-    else
-      num = num.neg().notn(64).addn(1);
-  }
+  if (num.isNeg())
+    num = num.neg().notn(64).addn(1);
 
   if (num.bitLength() > 64)
     num = num.uand(utils.U64);
@@ -2016,14 +1973,8 @@ utils.write64BE = function write64BE(dst, num, off) {
 
   off = off >>> 0;
 
-  // Convert the number to the
-  // negative byte representation.
-  if (num.isNeg()) {
-    if (num.cmpn(0) === 0)
-      num = new bn(0);
-    else
-      num = num.neg().notn(64).addn(1);
-  }
+  if (num.isNeg())
+    num = num.neg().notn(64).addn(1);
 
   if (num.bitLength() > 64)
     num = num.uand(utils.U64);