diff --git a/GPy/core/parameterised.py b/GPy/core/parameterised.py
index 13467fdf..af96e0a7 100644
--- a/GPy/core/parameterised.py
+++ b/GPy/core/parameterised.py
@@ -199,7 +199,7 @@ class Parameterised(object):
 
     def constrain_negative(self, regexp):
         """ Set negative constraints. """
-        self.constrain(regexp, transformations.negative_exponent())
+        self.constrain(regexp, transformations.negative_logexp())
 
     def constrain_positive(self, regexp):
         """ Set positive constraints. """
diff --git a/GPy/core/transformations.py b/GPy/core/transformations.py
index 2520a33b..5db835a9 100644
--- a/GPy/core/transformations.py
+++ b/GPy/core/transformations.py
@@ -36,6 +36,20 @@ class logexp(transformation):
     def __str__(self):
         return '(+ve)'
 
+class negative_logexp(transformation):
+    domain = NEGATIVE
+    def f(self, x):
+        return -np.log(1. + np.exp(x))
+    def finv(self, f):
+        return np.log(np.exp(-f) - 1.)
+    def gradfactor(self, f):
+        ef = np.exp(-f)
+        return -(ef - 1.) / ef
+    def initialize(self, f):
+        return -np.abs(f)
+    def __str__(self):
+        return '(-ve)'
+
 class logexp_clipped(transformation):
     max_bound = 1e100
     min_bound = 1e-10