diff --git a/include/boost/json/impl/pointer.ipp b/include/boost/json/impl/pointer.ipp
index 0004c85d7..a6a05d84d 100644
--- a/include/boost/json/impl/pointer.ipp
+++ b/include/boost/json/impl/pointer.ipp
@@ -455,6 +455,14 @@ value::set_at_pointer(
                 if( n >= opts.max_created_elements )
                     return nullptr;
 
+                // the resulting size, index + 1, would either exceed the
+                // array's size limit or wrap to 0 when index == size_t(-1)
+                if( index >= array::max_size() )
+                {
+                    BOOST_JSON_FAIL( ec, error::array_too_large );
+                    return nullptr;
+                }
+
                 arr.resize( arr.size() + n + 1 );
             }
 
diff --git a/test/pointer.cpp b/test/pointer.cpp
index 6b658befc..7a2ffcbb8 100644
--- a/test/pointer.cpp
+++ b/test/pointer.cpp
@@ -312,6 +312,26 @@ class pointer_test
         BOOST_TEST( *result == 0 );
         BOOST_TEST( result == &jv.at_pointer("/4") );
 
+        // an index equal to std::size_t(-1) makes the element count index + 1
+        // wrap to zero; the array must not be resized and no pointer past its
+        // end may be returned
+        opts = {};
+        opts.max_created_elements = std::size_t(-1);
+        jv = array{0};
+        {
+            std::string const ptr =
+                "/" + std::to_string(std::size_t(-1));
+            BOOST_TEST_THROWS_WITH_LOCATION( jv.set_at_pointer(ptr, 1, opts) );
+            BOOST_TEST(( jv == array{0} ));
+
+            system::error_code ec;
+            result = jv.set_at_pointer(ptr, 1, ec, opts);
+            BOOST_TEST( !result );
+            BOOST_TEST( ec == error::array_too_large );
+            BOOST_TEST( hasLocation(ec) );
+            BOOST_TEST(( jv == array{0} ));
+        }
+
         opts = {};
         opts.create_arrays = false;
         opts.create_objects = false;