diff --git a/src/PIL/PyAccess.py b/src/PIL/PyAccess.py
index cce2de2b8..395dbcd3b 100644
--- a/src/PIL/PyAccess.py
+++ b/src/PIL/PyAccess.py
@@ -88,8 +88,12 @@ class PyAccess(object):
         :returns: a pixel value for single band images, a tuple of
           pixel values for multiband images.
         """
-
-        (x, y) = self.check_xy(xy)
+        (x, y) = xy
+        if (x < 0):
+            x = self.xsize + x
+        if (y < 0):
+            y = self.ysize + y
+        (x, y) = self.check_xy((x, y))
         return self.get_pixel(x, y)
 
     putpixel = __setitem__
diff --git a/src/_imaging.c b/src/_imaging.c
index e4b31f10b..ede531e03 100644
--- a/src/_imaging.c
+++ b/src/_imaging.c
@@ -471,7 +471,12 @@ getpixel(Imaging im, ImagingAccess access, int x, int y)
       INT32 i;
       FLOAT32 f;
     } pixel;
-
+    if (x < 0){
+        x = im->xsize + x;
+    }
+    if (y < 0){
+        y = im->ysize + y;
+    }
     if (x < 0 || x >= im->xsize || y < 0 || y >= im->ysize) {
         PyErr_SetString(PyExc_IndexError, outside_image);
         return NULL;