Index: src/ooxml/java/org/apache/poi/xssf/usermodel/XSSFWorkbook.java
===================================================================
--- src/ooxml/java/org/apache/poi/xssf/usermodel/XSSFWorkbook.java	(Revision 1446506)
+++ src/ooxml/java/org/apache/poi/xssf/usermodel/XSSFWorkbook.java	(Arbeitskopie)
@@ -1040,8 +1040,12 @@
     private void validateSheetIndex(int index) {
         int lastSheetIx = sheets.size() - 1;
         if (index < 0 || index > lastSheetIx) {
+            String range = "(0.." +    lastSheetIx + ")";
+            if (lastSheetIx == -1) {
+                range = "(no sheets)";
+            }
             throw new IllegalArgumentException("Sheet index ("
-                    + index +") is out of range (0.." +    lastSheetIx + ")");
+                    + index +") is out of range " + range);
         }
     }
 
Index: src/testcases/org/apache/poi/ss/usermodel/BaseTestWorkbook.java
===================================================================
--- src/testcases/org/apache/poi/ss/usermodel/BaseTestWorkbook.java	(Revision 1446506)
+++ src/testcases/org/apache/poi/ss/usermodel/BaseTestWorkbook.java	(Arbeitskopie)
@@ -45,6 +45,8 @@
             fail("should have thrown exceptiuon due to invalid sheet index");
         } catch (IllegalArgumentException e) {
             // expected during successful test
+            // no negative index in the range message
+            assertFalse(e.getMessage().contains("-1"));
         }
 
         Sheet sheet0 = wb.createSheet();
Index: src/java/org/apache/poi/hssf/usermodel/HSSFWorkbook.java
===================================================================
--- src/java/org/apache/poi/hssf/usermodel/HSSFWorkbook.java	(Revision 1446506)
+++ src/java/org/apache/poi/hssf/usermodel/HSSFWorkbook.java	(Arbeitskopie)
@@ -427,8 +427,12 @@
     private void validateSheetIndex(int index) {
         int lastSheetIx = _sheets.size() - 1;
         if (index < 0 || index > lastSheetIx) {
+            String range = "(0.." +    lastSheetIx + ")";
+            if (lastSheetIx == -1) {
+                range = "(no sheets)";
+            }
             throw new IllegalArgumentException("Sheet index ("
-                    + index +") is out of range (0.." +    lastSheetIx + ")");
+                    + index +") is out of range " + range);
         }
     }