diff --git a/src/account.ts b/src/account.ts
index 1cc691d7..e7cbb349 100644
--- a/src/account.ts
+++ b/src/account.ts
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ export class Account {
   }
 
   /**
-   * This constructor takes the values, validates and assigns them.
+   * This constructor assigns and validates the values.
    * Use the static factory methods to assist in creating an Account from varying data types.
    */
   constructor(
@@ -70,17 +70,27 @@ export class Account {
     stateRoot = KECCAK256_RLP,
     codeHash = KECCAK256_NULL,
   ) {
-    if (stateRoot.length !== 32) {
-      throw new Error('stateRoot must have a length of 32')
-    }
-    if (codeHash.length !== 32) {
-      throw new Error('codeHash must have a length of 32')
-    }
-
     this.nonce = nonce
     this.balance = balance
     this.stateRoot = stateRoot
     this.codeHash = codeHash
+
+    this._validate()
+  }
+
+  private _validate() {
+    if (this.nonce.lt(new BN(0))) {
+      throw new Error('nonce must be greater than zero')
+    }
+    if (this.balance.lt(new BN(0))) {
+      throw new Error('balance must be greater than zero')
+    }
+    if (this.stateRoot.length !== 32) {
+      throw new Error('stateRoot must have a length of 32')
+    }
+    if (this.codeHash.length !== 32) {
+      throw new Error('codeHash must have a length of 32')
+    }
   }
 
   /**
diff --git a/test/account.spec.ts b/test/account.spec.ts
index 2691502f..c999b357 100644
--- a/test/account.spec.ts
+++ b/test/account.spec.ts
@@ -196,6 +196,18 @@ describe('Account', function() {
         Account.fromRlpSerializedAccount(data as any)
       })
     })
+
+    it('should not accept nonce less than 0', function() {
+      assert.throws(() => {
+        new Account(new BN(-5))
+      })
+    })
+
+    it('should not accept balance less than 0', function() {
+      assert.throws(() => {
+        new Account(undefined, new BN(-5))
+      })
+    })
   })
 })