diff --git a/spring-boot-project/spring-boot/src/main/java/org/springframework/boot/web/embedded/netty/NettyWebServer.java b/spring-boot-project/spring-boot/src/main/java/org/springframework/boot/web/embedded/netty/NettyWebServer.java
index 7938b9eb7c0b..e2daf9bde365 100644
--- a/spring-boot-project/spring-boot/src/main/java/org/springframework/boot/web/embedded/netty/NettyWebServer.java
+++ b/spring-boot-project/spring-boot/src/main/java/org/springframework/boot/web/embedded/netty/NettyWebServer.java
@@ -101,7 +101,7 @@ public void start() throws WebServerException {
 			}
 			catch (Exception ex) {
 				PortInUseException.ifCausedBy(ex, ChannelBindException.class, (bindException) -> {
-					if (!isPermissionDenied(bindException.getCause())) {
+					if (bindException.localPort() > 0 && !isPermissionDenied(bindException.getCause())) {
 						throw new PortInUseException(bindException.localPort(), ex);
 					}
 				});