diff --git a/lensless/recon/recon.py b/lensless/recon/recon.py
index e09f7c93..9ef77d89 100644
--- a/lensless/recon/recon.py
+++ b/lensless/recon/recon.py
@@ -552,6 +552,7 @@ def apply(
 
         if background is not None:
             self._data = self._data - background
+            self._data[self._data < 0] = 0
 
         if reset:
             self.reset()