diff --git a/src/vs/workbench/api/node/extHostTypes.ts b/src/vs/workbench/api/node/extHostTypes.ts
index b0cc9b02062..eb0028b0b74 100644
--- a/src/vs/workbench/api/node/extHostTypes.ts
+++ b/src/vs/workbench/api/node/extHostTypes.ts
@@ -91,10 +91,10 @@ export class Position {
 
 	constructor(line: number, character: number) {
 		if (line < 0) {
-			throw illegalArgument('line must be positive');
+			throw illegalArgument('line must be non-negative');
 		}
 		if (character < 0) {
-			throw illegalArgument('character must be positive');
+			throw illegalArgument('character must be non-negative');
 		}
 		this._line = line;
 		this._character = character;