diff --git a/libraries/cms/router/site.php b/libraries/cms/router/site.php
index 7f7ee65862b03..aa6995db67385 100644
--- a/libraries/cms/router/site.php
+++ b/libraries/cms/router/site.php
@@ -581,14 +581,11 @@ protected function processBuildRules(&$uri)
 
 		if ($this->_mode == JROUTER_MODE_SEF && $route)
 		{
-			$limitstart = (int) $uri->getVar('limitstart');
-
-			if ($limitstart > 0)
+			if ($limitstart = $uri->getVar('limitstart'))
 			{
-				$uri->setVar('start', $limitstart);
+				$uri->setVar('start', (int) $limitstart);
+				$uri->delVar('limitstart');
 			}
-
-			$uri->delVar('limitstart');
 		}
 
 		$uri->setPath($route);