diff --git a/brainiak/searchlight/searchlight.py b/brainiak/searchlight/searchlight.py
index db017782b..b640bb883 100644
--- a/brainiak/searchlight/searchlight.py
+++ b/brainiak/searchlight/searchlight.py
@@ -155,6 +155,8 @@ class Searchlight:
     """
     def __init__(self, sl_rad=1, max_blk_edge=10, shape=Cube,
                  min_active_voxels_proportion=0):
+        assert sl_rad >= 0, 'sl_rad should not be negative'
+        assert max_blk_edge > 0, 'max_blk_edge should be positive'
         self.sl_rad = sl_rad
         self.max_blk_edge = max_blk_edge
         self.min_active_voxels_proportion = min_active_voxels_proportion
@@ -534,9 +536,11 @@ def _singlenode_searchlight(l, msk, mysl_rad, bcast_var, extra_params):
     voxel_fn = extra_params[0]
     shape_mask = extra_params[1]
     min_active_voxels_proportion = extra_params[2]
-    outmat = np.empty(msk.shape, dtype=np.object)[mysl_rad:-mysl_rad,
-                                                  mysl_rad:-mysl_rad,
-                                                  mysl_rad:-mysl_rad]
+    outmat = np.empty(msk.shape, dtype=np.object)
+    if mysl_rad > 0:
+        outmat = outmat[mysl_rad:-mysl_rad,
+                        mysl_rad:-mysl_rad,
+                        mysl_rad:-mysl_rad]
     for i in range(0, outmat.shape[0]):
         for j in range(0, outmat.shape[1]):
             for k in range(0, outmat.shape[2]):
diff --git a/tests/searchlight/test_searchlight.py b/tests/searchlight/test_searchlight.py
index 7d472e6f5..92fa2f022 100644
--- a/tests/searchlight/test_searchlight.py
+++ b/tests/searchlight/test_searchlight.py
@@ -206,7 +206,10 @@ def voxel_test_sfn(l, msk, myrad, bcast):
 def block_test_sfn(l, msk, myrad, bcast_var, extra_params):
     outmat = l[0][:, :, :, 0]
     outmat[~msk] = None
-    return outmat[myrad:-myrad, myrad:-myrad, myrad:-myrad]
+    if myrad == 0:
+        return outmat
+    else:
+        return outmat[myrad:-myrad, myrad:-myrad, myrad:-myrad]
 
 
 def test_correctness():  # noqa: C901
@@ -286,6 +289,7 @@ def do_test(dim0, dim1, dim2, ntr, nsubj, max_blk_edge, rad):
         block_test(data, mask, max_blk_edge, rad)
 
     do_test(dim0=7, dim1=5, dim2=9, ntr=5, nsubj=1, max_blk_edge=4, rad=1)
+    do_test(dim0=7, dim1=5, dim2=9, ntr=5, nsubj=1, max_blk_edge=4, rad=0)
     do_test(dim0=7, dim1=5, dim2=9, ntr=5, nsubj=5, max_blk_edge=4, rad=1)
     do_test(dim0=1, dim1=5, dim2=9, ntr=5, nsubj=5, max_blk_edge=4, rad=1)
     do_test(dim0=0, dim1=10, dim2=8, ntr=5, nsubj=5, max_blk_edge=4, rad=1)