diff --git a/base/math.jl b/base/math.jl
index da51ab3a17bd0..d2596cd9f5456 100644
--- a/base/math.jl
+++ b/base/math.jl
@@ -1252,7 +1252,8 @@ end
 # this method is only reliable for -2^20 < n < 2^20 (cf. #53881 #53886)
 @assume_effects :terminates_locally @noinline function pow_body(x::Float64, n::Integer)
     y = 1.0
-    xnlo = ynlo = 0.0
+    xnlo = -0.0
+    ynlo = 0.0
     n == 3 && return x*x*x # keep compatibility with literal_pow
     if n < 0
         rx = inv(x)