diff --git a/benchmarks/python/time_utils.py b/benchmarks/python/time_utils.py
index 32d22ed99..f10635ec9 100644
--- a/benchmarks/python/time_utils.py
+++ b/benchmarks/python/time_utils.py
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ def measure_runtime(fn, **kwargs):
         fn(**kwargs)
 
     tic = time.time()
-    iters = 10
+    iters = 100
     for _ in range(iters):
         fn(**kwargs)
     return (time.time() - tic) * 1000 / iters
diff --git a/mlx/backend/metal/kernels/utils.h b/mlx/backend/metal/kernels/utils.h
index f9d507cf2..8ef1127b6 100644
--- a/mlx/backend/metal/kernels/utils.h
+++ b/mlx/backend/metal/kernels/utils.h
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ inline size_t elem_to_loc(
     device const size_t* strides,
     int ndim) {
   size_t loc = 0;
-  for (int i = ndim - 1; i >= 0; --i) {
+  for (int i = ndim - 1; i >= 0 && elem > 0; --i) {
     loc += (elem % shape[i]) * strides[i];
     elem /= shape[i];
   }
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ inline size_t elem_to_loc(
     constant const size_t* strides,
     int ndim) {
   size_t loc = 0;
-  for (int i = ndim - 1; i >= 0; --i) {
+  for (int i = ndim - 1; i >= 0 && elem > 0; --i) {
     loc += (elem % shape[i]) * strides[i];
     elem /= shape[i];
   }