diff --git a/src/blocked.c b/src/blocked.c
index 8a2e41463..3723b4fbf 100644
--- a/src/blocked.c
+++ b/src/blocked.c
@@ -363,7 +363,7 @@ void serveClientsBlockedOnSortedSetKey(robj *o, readyList *rl) {
             argv[0] = where == ZSET_MIN ? shared.zpopmin : shared.zpopmax;
             argv[1] = rl->key;
             incrRefCount(rl->key);
-            if (count != 0) {
+            if (count != -1) {
                 /* Replicate it as command with COUNT. */
                 robj *count_obj = createStringObjectFromLongLong((count > llen) ? llen : count);
                 argv[2] = count_obj;
@@ -371,7 +371,7 @@ void serveClientsBlockedOnSortedSetKey(robj *o, readyList *rl) {
             }
             propagate(receiver->db->id, argv, argc, PROPAGATE_AOF|PROPAGATE_REPL);
             decrRefCount(argv[1]);
-            if (count != 0) decrRefCount(argv[2]);
+            if (count != -1) decrRefCount(argv[2]);
 
             /* The zset is empty and has been deleted. */
             if (deleted) break;
diff --git a/src/module.c b/src/module.c
index 16f67671c..6d77ac97d 100644
--- a/src/module.c
+++ b/src/module.c
@@ -6249,7 +6249,7 @@ RedisModuleBlockedClient *moduleBlockClient(RedisModuleCtx *ctx, RedisModuleCmdF
             "Blocking module command called from transaction");
     } else {
         if (keys) {
-            blockForKeys(c,BLOCKED_MODULE,keys,numkeys,0,timeout,NULL,NULL,NULL);
+            blockForKeys(c,BLOCKED_MODULE,keys,numkeys,-1,timeout,NULL,NULL,NULL);
         } else {
             blockClient(c,BLOCKED_MODULE);
         }
diff --git a/src/server.h b/src/server.h
index 30aedcd84..1ee073fdb 100644
--- a/src/server.h
+++ b/src/server.h
@@ -846,7 +846,7 @@ typedef struct multiState {
  * The fields used depend on client->btype. */
 typedef struct blockingState {
     /* Generic fields. */
-    long count;             /* Elements to pop if count was specified (BLMPOP), 0 otherwise. */
+    long count;             /* Elements to pop if count was specified (BLMPOP/BZMPOP), -1 otherwise. */
     mstime_t timeout;       /* Blocking operation timeout. If UNIX current time
                              * is > timeout then the operation timed out. */
 
diff --git a/src/t_list.c b/src/t_list.c
index 77d16920e..6024c60cf 100644
--- a/src/t_list.c
+++ b/src/t_list.c
@@ -1040,9 +1040,9 @@ void serveClientBlockedOnList(client *receiver, robj *o, robj *key, robj *dstkey
  * 'numkeys' is the number of keys.
  * 'timeout_idx' parameter position of block timeout.
  * 'where' LIST_HEAD for LEFT, LIST_TAIL for RIGHT.
- * 'count' is the number of elements requested to pop, or 0 for plain single pop.
+ * 'count' is the number of elements requested to pop, or -1 for plain single pop.
  *
- * When count is 0, a reply of a single bulk-string will be used.
+ * When count is -1, a reply of a single bulk-string will be used.
  * When count > 0, an array reply will be used. */
 void blockingPopGenericCommand(client *c, robj **keys, int numkeys, int where, int timeout_idx, long count) {
     robj *o;
@@ -1067,7 +1067,7 @@ void blockingPopGenericCommand(client *c, robj **keys, int numkeys, int where, i
         /* Empty list, move to next key. */
         if (llen == 0) continue;
 
-        if (count != 0) {
+        if (count != -1) {
             /* BLMPOP, non empty list, like a normal [LR]POP with count option.
              * The difference here we pop a range of elements in a nested arrays way. */
             listPopRangeAndReplyWithKey(c, o, key, where, count, NULL);
@@ -1112,12 +1112,12 @@ void blockingPopGenericCommand(client *c, robj **keys, int numkeys, int where, i
 
 /* BLPOP <key> [<key> ...] <timeout> */
 void blpopCommand(client *c) {
-    blockingPopGenericCommand(c,c->argv+1,c->argc-2,LIST_HEAD,c->argc-1,0);
+    blockingPopGenericCommand(c,c->argv+1,c->argc-2,LIST_HEAD,c->argc-1,-1);
 }
 
 /* BRPOP <key> [<key> ...] <timeout> */
 void brpopCommand(client *c) {
-    blockingPopGenericCommand(c,c->argv+1,c->argc-2,LIST_TAIL,c->argc-1,0);
+    blockingPopGenericCommand(c,c->argv+1,c->argc-2,LIST_TAIL,c->argc-1,-1);
 }
 
 void blmoveGenericCommand(client *c, int wherefrom, int whereto, mstime_t timeout) {
@@ -1132,7 +1132,7 @@ void blmoveGenericCommand(client *c, int wherefrom, int whereto, mstime_t timeou
         } else {
             /* The list is empty and the client blocks. */
             struct blockPos pos = {wherefrom, whereto};
-            blockForKeys(c,BLOCKED_LIST,c->argv + 1,1,0,timeout,c->argv[2],&pos,NULL);
+            blockForKeys(c,BLOCKED_LIST,c->argv + 1,1,-1,timeout,c->argv[2],&pos,NULL);
         }
     } else {
         /* The list exists and has elements, so
@@ -1171,7 +1171,7 @@ void lmpopGenericCommand(client *c, int numkeys_idx, int is_block) {
     long j;
     long numkeys = 0;      /* Number of keys. */
     int where = 0;         /* HEAD for LEFT, TAIL for RIGHT. */
-    long count = 0;        /* Reply will consist of up to count elements, depending on the list's length. */
+    long count = -1;       /* Reply will consist of up to count elements, depending on the list's length. */
 
     /* Parse the numkeys. */
     if (getRangeLongFromObjectOrReply(c, c->argv[numkeys_idx], 1, LONG_MAX,
@@ -1192,7 +1192,7 @@ void lmpopGenericCommand(client *c, int numkeys_idx, int is_block) {
         char *opt = c->argv[j]->ptr;
         int moreargs = (c->argc - 1) - j;
 
-        if (count == 0 && !strcasecmp(opt, "COUNT") && moreargs) {
+        if (count == -1 && !strcasecmp(opt, "COUNT") && moreargs) {
             j++;
             if (getRangeLongFromObjectOrReply(c, c->argv[j], 1, LONG_MAX,
                                               &count,"count should be greater than 0") != C_OK)
@@ -1203,7 +1203,7 @@ void lmpopGenericCommand(client *c, int numkeys_idx, int is_block) {
         }
     }
 
-    if (count == 0) count = 1;
+    if (count == -1) count = 1;
 
     if (is_block) {
         /* BLOCK. We will handle CLIENT_DENY_BLOCKING flag in blockingPopGenericCommand. */
diff --git a/src/t_stream.c b/src/t_stream.c
index 900e23d0e..776030c94 100644
--- a/src/t_stream.c
+++ b/src/t_stream.c
@@ -2182,7 +2182,7 @@ void xreadCommand(client *c) {
             goto cleanup;
         }
         blockForKeys(c, BLOCKED_STREAM, c->argv+streams_arg, streams_count,
-                     0, timeout, NULL, NULL, ids);
+                     -1, timeout, NULL, NULL, ids);
         /* If no COUNT is given and we block, set a relatively small count:
          * in case the ID provided is too low, we do not want the server to
          * block just to serve this client a huge stream of messages. */
diff --git a/src/t_zset.c b/src/t_zset.c
index 06c2d2372..4516c19c0 100644
--- a/src/t_zset.c
+++ b/src/t_zset.c
@@ -3776,7 +3776,7 @@ void zscanCommand(client *c) {
  * behavior of BZPOP[MIN|MAX], since we can block into multiple keys.
  * Or in ZMPOP/BZMPOP, because we also can take multiple keys.
  *
- * 'count' is the number of elements requested to pop, or 0 for plain single pop.
+ * 'count' is the number of elements requested to pop, or -1 for plain single pop.
  *
  * 'use_nested_array' when false it generates a flat array (with or without key name).
  * When true, it generates a nested 2 level array of field + score pairs, or 3 level when emitkey is set.
@@ -3819,10 +3819,16 @@ void genericZpopCommand(client *c, robj **keyv, int keyc, int where, int emitkey
         return;
     }
 
+    if (count == 0) {
+        /* ZPOPMIN/ZPOPMAX with count 0. */
+        addReply(c, shared.emptyarray);
+        return;
+    }
+
     long result_count = 0;
 
-    /* When count is 0, we need to correct it to 1 for plain single pop. */
-    if (count == 0) count = 1;
+    /* When count is -1, we need to correct it to 1 for plain single pop. */
+    if (count == -1) count = 1;
 
     long llen = zsetLength(zobj);
     long rangelen = (count > llen) ? llen : count;
@@ -3926,20 +3932,13 @@ void zpopMinMaxCommand(client *c, int where) {
         return;
     }
 
-    long count = 0; /* 0 for plain single pop. */
-    if (c->argc == 3) {
-        if (getLongFromObjectOrReply(c, c->argv[2], &count, NULL) != C_OK)
-            return;
+    long count = -1; /* -1 for plain single pop. */
+    if (c->argc == 3 && getPositiveLongFromObjectOrReply(c, c->argv[2], &count, NULL) != C_OK)
+        return;
 
-        if (count <= 0) {
-            addReply(c, shared.emptyarray);
-            return;
-        }
-    }
-
-    /* Respond with a single (flat) array in RESP2 or if count is 0
+    /* Respond with a single (flat) array in RESP2 or if count is -1
      * (returning a single element). In RESP3, when count > 0 use nested array. */
-    int use_nested_array = (c->resp > 2 && count != 0);
+    int use_nested_array = (c->resp > 2 && count != -1);
 
     genericZpopCommand(c, &c->argv[1], 1, where, 0, count, use_nested_array, 0, NULL);
 }
@@ -3962,7 +3961,7 @@ void zpopmaxCommand(client *c) {
  *
  * 'where' ZSET_MIN or ZSET_MAX.
  *
- * 'count' is the number of elements requested to pop, or 0 for plain single pop.
+ * 'count' is the number of elements requested to pop, or -1 for plain single pop.
  *
  * 'use_nested_array' when false it generates a flat array (with or without key name).
  * When true, it generates a nested 3 level array of keyname, field + score pairs.
@@ -3992,7 +3991,7 @@ void blockingGenericZpopCommand(client *c, robj **keys, int numkeys, int where,
         /* Non empty zset, this is like a normal ZPOP[MIN|MAX]. */
         genericZpopCommand(c, &key, 1, where, 1, count, use_nested_array, reply_nil_when_empty, NULL);
 
-        if (count == 0) {
+        if (count == -1) {
             /* Replicate it as ZPOP[MIN|MAX] instead of BZPOP[MIN|MAX]. */
             rewriteClientCommandVector(c,2,
                                        (where == ZSET_MAX) ? shared.zpopmax : shared.zpopmin,
@@ -4023,12 +4022,12 @@ void blockingGenericZpopCommand(client *c, robj **keys, int numkeys, int where,
 
 // BZPOPMIN key [key ...] timeout
 void bzpopminCommand(client *c) {
-    blockingGenericZpopCommand(c, c->argv+1, c->argc-2, ZSET_MIN, c->argc-1, 0, 0, 0);
+    blockingGenericZpopCommand(c, c->argv+1, c->argc-2, ZSET_MIN, c->argc-1, -1, 0, 0);
 }
 
 // BZPOPMAX key [key ...] timeout
 void bzpopmaxCommand(client *c) {
-    blockingGenericZpopCommand(c, c->argv+1, c->argc-2, ZSET_MAX, c->argc-1, 0, 0, 0);
+    blockingGenericZpopCommand(c, c->argv+1, c->argc-2, ZSET_MAX, c->argc-1, -1, 0, 0);
 }
 
 static void zarndmemberReplyWithListpack(client *c, unsigned int count, listpackEntry *keys, listpackEntry *vals) {
@@ -4287,7 +4286,7 @@ void zmpopGenericCommand(client *c, int numkeys_idx, int is_block) {
     long j;
     long numkeys = 0;      /* Number of keys. */
     int where = 0;         /* ZSET_MIN or ZSET_MAX. */
-    long count = 0;        /* Reply will consist of up to count elements, depending on the zset's length. */
+    long count = -1;       /* Reply will consist of up to count elements, depending on the zset's length. */
 
     /* Parse the numkeys. */
     if (getRangeLongFromObjectOrReply(c, c->argv[numkeys_idx], 1, LONG_MAX,
@@ -4314,7 +4313,7 @@ void zmpopGenericCommand(client *c, int numkeys_idx, int is_block) {
         char *opt = c->argv[j]->ptr;
         int moreargs = (c->argc - 1) - j;
 
-        if (count == 0 && !strcasecmp(opt, "COUNT") && moreargs) {
+        if (count == -1 && !strcasecmp(opt, "COUNT") && moreargs) {
             j++;
             if (getRangeLongFromObjectOrReply(c, c->argv[j], 1, LONG_MAX,
                                               &count,"count should be greater than 0") != C_OK)
@@ -4325,7 +4324,7 @@ void zmpopGenericCommand(client *c, int numkeys_idx, int is_block) {
         }
     }
 
-    if (count == 0) count = 1;
+    if (count == -1) count = 1;
 
     if (is_block) {
         /* BLOCK. We will handle CLIENT_DENY_BLOCKING flag in blockingGenericZpopCommand. */
diff --git a/tests/unit/type/zset.tcl b/tests/unit/type/zset.tcl
index 3533fcddb..457a0ad2b 100644
--- a/tests/unit/type/zset.tcl
+++ b/tests/unit/type/zset.tcl
@@ -1003,6 +1003,32 @@ start_server {tags {"zset"}} {
             }
         }
 
+        foreach {pop} {ZPOPMIN ZPOPMAX} {
+            test "$pop with the count 0 returns an empty array" {
+                r del zset
+                r zadd zset 1 a 2 b 3 c
+                assert_equal {} [r $pop zset 0]
+
+                # Make sure we can distinguish between an empty array and a null response
+                r readraw 1
+                assert_equal {*0} [r $pop zset 0]
+                r readraw 0
+
+                assert_equal 3 [r zcard zset]
+            }
+
+            test "$pop with negative count" {
+                r set zset foo
+                assert_error "ERR *must be positive" {r $pop zset -1}
+
+                r del zset
+                assert_error "ERR *must be positive" {r $pop zset -2}
+
+                r zadd zset 1 a 2 b 3 c
+                assert_error "ERR *must be positive" {r $pop zset -3}
+            }
+        }
+
     foreach {popmin popmax} {ZPOPMIN ZPOPMAX ZMPOP_MIN ZMPOP_MAX} {
         test "Basic $popmin/$popmax with a single key - $encoding" {
             r del zset
@@ -1115,7 +1141,9 @@ start_server {tags {"zset"}} {
     test "ZPOP/ZMPOP against wrong type" {
         r set foo{t} bar
         assert_error "*WRONGTYPE*" {r zpopmin foo{t}}
+        assert_error "*WRONGTYPE*" {r zpopmin foo{t} 0}
         assert_error "*WRONGTYPE*" {r zpopmax foo{t}}
+        assert_error "*WRONGTYPE*" {r zpopmax foo{t} 0}
         assert_error "*WRONGTYPE*" {r zpopmin foo{t} 2}
 
         assert_error "*WRONGTYPE*" {r zmpop 1 foo{t} min}