diff --git a/docs/optimizer_config.schema.json b/docs/optimizer_config.schema.json
index 6cd14fcfd..7b6522159 100644
--- a/docs/optimizer_config.schema.json
+++ b/docs/optimizer_config.schema.json
@@ -1242,7 +1242,7 @@
         },
         "seed": {
             "default": 42,
-            "exclusiveMinimum": 0,
+            "minimum": 0,
             "title": "Seed",
             "type": "integer"
         }
diff --git a/src/autointent/_optimization_config.py b/src/autointent/_optimization_config.py
index 547474a92..64767c7bd 100644
--- a/src/autointent/_optimization_config.py
+++ b/src/autointent/_optimization_config.py
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 
 from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Any
 
-from pydantic import BaseModel, Field, PositiveInt, field_validator
+from pydantic import BaseModel, Field, NonNegativeInt, field_validator
 
 from .configs import (
     CrossEncoderConfig,
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ def validate_embedder_config(cls, v: Any) -> EmbedderConfig:  # noqa: ANN401
 
     hpo_config: HPOConfig = HPOConfig()
 
-    seed: PositiveInt = 42
+    seed: NonNegativeInt = 42
 
     @classmethod
     def from_preset(cls, preset: SearchSpacePreset) -> OptimizationConfig:
diff --git a/tests/configs/test_full_config.py b/tests/configs/test_full_config.py
index b95b4a63f..cd97d0831 100644
--- a/tests/configs/test_full_config.py
+++ b/tests/configs/test_full_config.py
@@ -17,3 +17,14 @@ def test_not_valid_reporting() -> None:
 
     with pytest.raises(ValidationError):
         OptimizationConfig(**config)
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("seed", [0, 1, 42])
+def test_seed_accepts_non_negative(seed: int) -> None:
+    config = OptimizationConfig(seed=seed, search_space=[])
+    assert config.seed == seed
+
+
+def test_seed_rejects_negative() -> None:
+    with pytest.raises(ValidationError):
+        OptimizationConfig(seed=-1, search_space=[])