diff --git a/src/templates_front/templator_front.org b/src/templates_front/templator_front.org
index 672b465..430e7c2 100644
--- a/src/templates_front/templator_front.org
+++ b/src/templates_front/templator_front.org
@@ -493,7 +493,7 @@ trexio_exit_code trexio_read_$group$_$group_dset$(trexio_t* file, $group_dset_dt
   if ($group_dset$ == NULL) return TREXIO_INVALID_ARG_2;
     
   trexio_exit_code rc;
-  uint64_t $group_dset_dim$ = -1;
+  uint64_t $group_dset_dim$ = 0;
 
   switch (file->back_end) {
 
@@ -513,7 +513,7 @@ trexio_exit_code trexio_read_$group$_$group_dset$(trexio_t* file, $group_dset_dt
 
   if (rc != TREXIO_SUCCESS) return rc;
 
-  if ($group_dset_dim$ <= 0L) return TREXIO_INVALID_NUM;
+  if ($group_dset_dim$ == 0L) return TREXIO_INVALID_NUM;
 
   uint32_t rank = $group_dset_rank$;
   uint64_t dims[$group_dset_rank$] = {$group_dset_dim_list$}; 
@@ -545,7 +545,7 @@ trexio_exit_code trexio_write_$group$_$group_dset$(trexio_t* file, const $group_
   if ($group_dset$ == NULL) return TREXIO_INVALID_ARG_2;
 
   trexio_exit_code rc;
-  uint64_t $group_dset_dim$ = -1;
+  uint64_t $group_dset_dim$ = 0;
   switch (file->back_end) {
 
   case TREXIO_TEXT:
@@ -563,7 +563,7 @@ trexio_exit_code trexio_write_$group$_$group_dset$(trexio_t* file, const $group_
   }
 
   if (rc != TREXIO_SUCCESS) return rc;
-  if ($group_dset_dim$ <= 0L) return TREXIO_INVALID_NUM;
+  if ($group_dset_dim$ == 0L) return TREXIO_INVALID_NUM;
 
   uint32_t rank = $group_dset_rank$;
   uint64_t dims[$group_dset_rank$] = {$group_dset_dim_list$};