diff --git a/base/psblas/psb_damax.f90 b/base/psblas/psb_damax.f90
index fef149ee..db45d568 100644
--- a/base/psblas/psb_damax.f90
+++ b/base/psblas/psb_damax.f90
@@ -689,11 +689,11 @@ function psb_dmin_vect(x, desc_a, info,global) result(res)
     goto 9999
   end if
 
-  ! compute local max
+  ! compute local min
   if ((desc_a%get_local_rows() > 0).and.(m /= 0)) then
     res = x%minreal(desc_a%get_local_rows())
   else
-    res = dzero
+    res = HUGE(done)
   end if
 
   ! compute global min
diff --git a/base/psblas/psb_samax.f90 b/base/psblas/psb_samax.f90
index 056b201c..ca923b94 100644
--- a/base/psblas/psb_samax.f90
+++ b/base/psblas/psb_samax.f90
@@ -689,11 +689,11 @@ function psb_smin_vect(x, desc_a, info,global) result(res)
     goto 9999
   end if
 
-  ! compute local max
+  ! compute local min
   if ((desc_a%get_local_rows() > 0).and.(m /= 0)) then
     res = x%minreal(desc_a%get_local_rows())
   else
-    res = szero
+    res = HUGE(sone)
   end if
 
   ! compute global min