diff --git a/src/java/com/threerings/stage/tools/editor/TestTileLoader.java b/src/java/com/threerings/stage/tools/editor/TestTileLoader.java
index 6df66767..ce77e2aa 100644
--- a/src/java/com/threerings/stage/tools/editor/TestTileLoader.java
+++ b/src/java/com/threerings/stage/tools/editor/TestTileLoader.java
@@ -173,7 +173,7 @@ public class TestTileLoader implements TileSetIDBroker
     }
 
     /** The value of the next fakeID we'll hand out. */
-    protected int _fakeID = -1;
+    protected int _fakeID = Short.MAX_VALUE;
 
     /** A mapping of pathname -> tileset id. */
     protected HashMap _idmap = new HashMap();