diff --git a/src/uu/nproc/src/nproc.rs b/src/uu/nproc/src/nproc.rs
index 1e76f81df28..6a2a97ecac8 100644
--- a/src/uu/nproc/src/nproc.rs
+++ b/src/uu/nproc/src/nproc.rs
@@ -80,12 +80,7 @@ pub fn uumain(args: impl uucore::Args) -> UResult<()> {
         }
     };
 
-    cores = std::cmp::min(limit, cores);
-    if cores <= ignore {
-        cores = 1;
-    } else {
-        cores -= ignore;
-    }
+    cores = cores.min(limit).saturating_sub(ignore).max(1);
     //discard error about stdout flush
     stdout()
         .lock()