diff --git a/worldedit-core/src/main/java/com/sk89q/worldedit/command/NavigationCommands.java b/worldedit-core/src/main/java/com/sk89q/worldedit/command/NavigationCommands.java
index 4cb581e3d..ba891026c 100644
--- a/worldedit-core/src/main/java/com/sk89q/worldedit/command/NavigationCommands.java
+++ b/worldedit-core/src/main/java/com/sk89q/worldedit/command/NavigationCommands.java
@@ -75,9 +75,12 @@ public class NavigationCommands {
     )
     @CommandPermissions("worldedit.navigation.ascend")
     public void ascend(Player player, @Optional("1") int levelsToAscend) throws WorldEditException {
-        int ascentLevels = 1;
-        while (player.ascendLevel() && levelsToAscend != ascentLevels) {
+        int ascentLevels = 0;
+        while (player.ascendLevel()) {
             ++ascentLevels;
+            if (levelsToAscend == ascentLevels) {
+                break;
+            }
         }
         if (ascentLevels == 0) {
             player.printError("No free spot above you found.");
@@ -95,12 +98,15 @@ public class NavigationCommands {
     )
     @CommandPermissions("worldedit.navigation.descend")
     public void descend(Player player, @Optional("1") int levelsToDescend) throws WorldEditException {
-        int descentLevels = 1;
-        while (player.descendLevel() && levelsToDescend != descentLevels) {
+        int descentLevels = 0;
+        while (player.descendLevel()) {
             ++descentLevels;
+            if (levelsToDescend == descentLevels) {
+                break;
+            }
         }
         if (descentLevels == 0) {
-            player.printError("No free spot above you found.");
+            player.printError("No free spot below you found.");
         } else {
             player.print((descentLevels != 1) ? "Descended " + Integer.toString(descentLevels) + " levels." : "Descended a level.");
         }