diff --git a/backend/app/rest/api/rest_test.go b/backend/app/rest/api/rest_test.go
index 73c6c0fd..e10cb527 100644
--- a/backend/app/rest/api/rest_test.go
+++ b/backend/app/rest/api/rest_test.go
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ func prep(t *testing.T) (srv *Rest, ts *httptest.Server) {
 		EditDuration:   5 * time.Minute,
 		MaxCommentSize: 4000,
 		AdminStore:     adminStore,
-		MaxVotes:       -1,
+		MaxVotes:       service.UnlimitedVotes,
 	}
 	srv = &Rest{
 		DataService: dataStore,
diff --git a/backend/app/store/service/service.go b/backend/app/store/service/service.go
index 0ceac45a..1517acca 100644
--- a/backend/app/store/service/service.go
+++ b/backend/app/store/service/service.go
@@ -29,7 +29,9 @@ type DataStore struct {
 }
 
 const defaultCommentMaxSize = 2000
-const defaultVotesLimit = -1 // unlimited
+
+// UnlimitedVotes doesn't restrict MaxVotes
+const UnlimitedVotes = -1
 
 // Create prepares comment and forward to Interface.Create
 func (s *DataStore) Create(comment store.Comment) (commentID string, err error) {
@@ -100,8 +102,8 @@ func (s *DataStore) Vote(locator store.Locator, commentID string, userID string,
 	}
 
 	maxVotes := s.MaxVotes
-	if s.MaxVotes < 0 {
-		maxVotes = defaultVotesLimit
+	if s.MaxVotes <= 0 {
+		maxVotes = UnlimitedVotes
 	}
 
 	if maxVotes >= 0 && len(comment.Votes) >= maxVotes {