diff --git a/mne/io/egi/events.py b/mne/io/egi/events.py
index 78203c0170d..9e4967d115a 100644
--- a/mne/io/egi/events.py
+++ b/mne/io/egi/events.py
@@ -29,6 +29,8 @@ def _read_events(input_fname, info):
     events = np.zeros([info['n_events'], info['n_segments'] * n_samples])
     for n, event in enumerate(event_codes):
         for i in mff_events[event]:
+            if (i < 0) or (i >= events.shape[1]):
+                continue
             events[n][i] = n + 1
     return events, info