diff --git a/unpacked/jax/output/HTML-CSS/autoload/multiline.js b/unpacked/jax/output/HTML-CSS/autoload/multiline.js
index 82b48a82a..4478df8a1 100644
--- a/unpacked/jax/output/HTML-CSS/autoload/multiline.js
+++ b/unpacked/jax/output/HTML-CSS/autoload/multiline.js
@@ -542,7 +542,7 @@ MathJax.Hub.Register.StartupHook("HTML-CSS Jax Ready",function () {
       //  mrows for nesting, but can leave these unbalanced.
       //
       if (values.texClass === MML.TEXCLASS.OPEN) {info.nest++}
-      if (values.texClass === MML.TEXCLASS.CLOSE) {info.nest--}
+      if (values.texClass === MML.TEXCLASS.CLOSE && info.nest) {info.nest--}
       //
       //  Get the default penalty for this location
       //
diff --git a/unpacked/jax/output/SVG/autoload/multiline.js b/unpacked/jax/output/SVG/autoload/multiline.js
index 2dc3007b7..7ea6d1656 100644
--- a/unpacked/jax/output/SVG/autoload/multiline.js
+++ b/unpacked/jax/output/SVG/autoload/multiline.js
@@ -490,7 +490,7 @@ MathJax.Hub.Register.StartupHook("SVG Jax Ready",function () {
       //  mrows for nesting, but can leave these unbalanced.
       //
       if (values.texClass === MML.TEXCLASS.OPEN) {info.nest++}
-      if (values.texClass === MML.TEXCLASS.CLOSE) {info.nest--}
+      if (values.texClass === MML.TEXCLASS.CLOSE && info.nest) {info.nest--}
       //
       //  Get the default penalty for this location
       //