diff --git a/src/driver-sinowealth.c b/src/driver-sinowealth.c
index d665cd28..dc02b265 100644
--- a/src/driver-sinowealth.c
+++ b/src/driver-sinowealth.c
@@ -1668,7 +1668,18 @@ sinowealth_init_profile(struct ratbag_device *device)
 	const unsigned int active_profile_index = (unsigned int)rc;
 	log_debug(device->ratbag, "Active profile index: %d\n", rc);
 
-	drv_data->button_count = device_data->button_count;
+	rc = device_data->button_count;
+	if (rc == -1) {
+		drv_data->button_count = 0;
+	} else if (rc >= 0) {
+		drv_data->button_count = (unsigned int)rc;
+	} else {
+		log_error(device->ratbag,
+			  "Device file for firmware version %s specifies button count: %d\n",
+			  fw_version, rc);
+		return -EINVAL;
+	}
+
 	drv_data->led_type = device_data->led_type;
 
 	log_info(device->ratbag, "Found device: %s\n", device_data->device_name);
diff --git a/src/driver-sinowealth.h b/src/driver-sinowealth.h
index 0114d9c0..310f4e9f 100644
--- a/src/driver-sinowealth.h
+++ b/src/driver-sinowealth.h
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ struct sinowealth_device_data {
 	char *fw_version;
 	char *device_name;
 	enum sinowealth_led_format led_type;
-	unsigned int button_count;
+	int button_count;
 	int profile_count;
 
 	struct list link;
diff --git a/src/libratbag-data.c b/src/libratbag-data.c
index 79b25965..f66bfb3b 100644
--- a/src/libratbag-data.c
+++ b/src/libratbag-data.c
@@ -248,7 +248,12 @@ init_data_sinowealth(struct ratbag *ratbag,
 
 		struct sinowealth_device_data *device = zalloc(sizeof(struct sinowealth_device_data));
 
-		device->button_count = g_key_file_get_integer(keyfile, device_group, "ButtonCount", &error);
+		rc = g_key_file_get_integer(keyfile, device_group, "ButtonCount", &error);
+		if (rc != 0 && !error) {
+			device->button_count = rc;
+		} else {
+			device->button_count = -1;
+		}
 		g_clear_error(&error);
 
 		device->device_name = g_key_file_get_string(keyfile, device_group, "DeviceName", &error);