diff --git a/py/argcheck.c b/py/argcheck.c
index b530d44caa..265b303901 100644
--- a/py/argcheck.c
+++ b/py/argcheck.c
@@ -204,8 +204,8 @@ void mp_arg_validate_obj_float_range(mp_obj_t float_in, mp_int_t min, mp_int_t m
 mp_float_t mp_arg_validate_obj_float_non_negative(mp_obj_t float_in, mp_float_t default_for_null, qstr arg_name) {
     const mp_float_t f = (float_in == MP_OBJ_NULL)
         ? default_for_null
-        : mp_obj_get_float(float_in);
-    if (f <= (mp_float_t)0.0) {
+        : mp_arg_validate_type_float(float_in, arg_name);
+    if (f < (mp_float_t)0.0) {
         mp_raise_ValueError_varg(translate("%q must be >= %d"), arg_name, 0);
     }
     return f;