diff --git a/include/boost/rational.hpp b/include/boost/rational.hpp
index f33bc3b1..afe99839 100644
--- a/include/boost/rational.hpp
+++ b/include/boost/rational.hpp
@@ -902,7 +902,7 @@ BOOST_CXX14_CONSTEXPR void rational<IntType>::normalize()
     num /= g;
     den /= g;
 
-    if (den < -(std::numeric_limits<IntType>::max)()) {
+    if (std::numeric_limits<IntType>::is_bounded && den < -(std::numeric_limits<IntType>::max)()) {
         BOOST_THROW_EXCEPTION(bad_rational("bad rational: non-zero singular denominator"));
     }
 
diff --git a/test/rational_test.cpp b/test/rational_test.cpp
index ccd58ea5..d4efe5fc 100644
--- a/test/rational_test.cpp
+++ b/test/rational_test.cpp
@@ -40,6 +40,7 @@
 #include <boost/config.hpp>
 #include <boost/limits.hpp>
 #include <boost/mpl/list.hpp>
+#include <boost/multiprecision/cpp_int.hpp>
 #include <boost/operators.hpp>
 #include <boost/preprocessor/stringize.hpp>
 #include <boost/integer/common_factor_rt.hpp>
@@ -1605,4 +1606,16 @@ BOOST_AUTO_TEST_CASE( ticket_9067_test )
 #endif
 }
 
+// arbitrary precision rational with negative denominator throws exception
+BOOST_AUTO_TEST_CASE( issue_27_test )
+{
+    using namespace boost::multiprecision;
+
+    // Verify that the check to ensure that the denominator is positive works
+    // with an arbitrary precision rational.
+    cpp_rational rational(1, -2);
+    BOOST_CHECK_EQUAL(numerator(rational), -1);
+    BOOST_CHECK_EQUAL(denominator(rational), 2);
+}
+
 BOOST_AUTO_TEST_SUITE_END()