diff --git a/lib/Convert/Bencode.pm b/lib/Convert/Bencode.pm
index ff6073f..8adca66 100644
--- a/lib/Convert/Bencode.pm
+++ b/lib/Convert/Bencode.pm
@@ -102,7 +102,7 @@ sub bencode {
 		$line .= 'e';
 		return $line;
 	}
-	if($item =~ /^\d+$/) {
+	if($item =~ /^(?:0|-?[1-9]\d*)$/) {
 		$line = 'i';
 		$line .= $item;
 		$line .= 'e';