diff --git a/src/java/com/samskivert/util/HashIntSet.java b/src/java/com/samskivert/util/HashIntSet.java
index 4ad067cf..ae43ac0b 100644
--- a/src/java/com/samskivert/util/HashIntSet.java
+++ b/src/java/com/samskivert/util/HashIntSet.java
@@ -274,9 +274,11 @@ public class HashIntSet extends AbstractIntSet
     @Override // documentation inherited
     public void clear ()
     {
-        createBuckets(MIN_BUCKET_COUNT);
-        _size = 0;
-        _modcount++;
+        if (_size > 0) {
+            createBuckets(MIN_BUCKET_COUNT);
+            _size = 0;
+            _modcount++;
+        }
     }
 
     @Override // documentation inherited