diff --git a/apis/python/src/tiledbsoma/_dataframe.py b/apis/python/src/tiledbsoma/_dataframe.py
index 449e4cc225..ec6b02c0ee 100644
--- a/apis/python/src/tiledbsoma/_dataframe.py
+++ b/apis/python/src/tiledbsoma/_dataframe.py
@@ -300,13 +300,9 @@ def create(
             if index_column_name == "soma_joinid":
                 lower = slot_core_current_domain[0]
                 upper = slot_core_current_domain[1]
-                if lower != 0:
+                if lower < 0 or upper < 0 or upper < lower:
                     raise ValueError(
-                        f"domain for soma_joinid must have lower bound of 0; got {lower}"
-                    )
-                if upper < 0:
-                    raise ValueError(
-                        f"domain for soma_joinid must have upper bound >= 0; got {upper}"
+                        f"domain for soma_joinid must be non-negative with lower <= upper; got ({lower}, {upper})"
                     )
 
             # Here is our Arrow data API for communicating schema info between
diff --git a/apis/python/tests/test_dataframe.py b/apis/python/tests/test_dataframe.py
index b1f5103323..df2dff0a50 100644
--- a/apis/python/tests/test_dataframe.py
+++ b/apis/python/tests/test_dataframe.py
@@ -1882,20 +1882,20 @@ def test_bounds_on_somajoinid_domain(tmp_path):
         soma.DataFrame.create(
             uri,
             schema=schema,
-            domain=[[2, 99]],
+            domain=[[0, -1]],
         )
 
     with pytest.raises(ValueError):
         soma.DataFrame.create(
             uri,
             schema=schema,
-            domain=[[0, -1]],
+            domain=[[-1, 2]],
         )
 
     soma.DataFrame.create(
         uri,
         schema=schema,
-        domain=[[0, 99]],
+        domain=[[2, 99]],
     )
 
     assert soma.DataFrame.exists(uri)
diff --git a/apis/r/R/SOMADataFrame.R b/apis/r/R/SOMADataFrame.R
index a7b24d702a..761e0d98ff 100644
--- a/apis/r/R/SOMADataFrame.R
+++ b/apis/r/R/SOMADataFrame.R
@@ -66,11 +66,12 @@ SOMADataFrame <- R6::R6Class(
       )
 
       if ("soma_joinid" %in% index_column_names && !is.null(domain)) {
-        lower <- domain[["soma_joinid"]][1]
-        upper <- domain[["soma_joinid"]][2]
+        lower_bound <- domain[["soma_joinid"]][1]
+        upper_bound <- domain[["soma_joinid"]][2]
         stopifnot(
-          "The lower bound for soma_joinid domain must be 0" = lower == 0,
-          "The upper bound for soma_joinid domain must be >= 0" = upper >= 0
+          "The lower bound for soma_joinid domain must be >= 0" = lower_bound >= 0,
+          "The upper bound for soma_joinid domain must be >= 0" = upper_bound >= 0,
+          "The upper bound for soma_joinid domain must be >= the lower bound" = upper_bound >= lower_bound
           )
       }
 
diff --git a/apis/r/tests/testthat/test-06-SOMADataFrame.R b/apis/r/tests/testthat/test-06-SOMADataFrame.R
index e9aa748b9e..ab0669de66 100644
--- a/apis/r/tests/testthat/test-06-SOMADataFrame.R
+++ b/apis/r/tests/testthat/test-06-SOMADataFrame.R
@@ -194,7 +194,7 @@ test_that("soma_joinid domain lower bound must be zero", {
       uri,
       asch,
       index_column_names = index_column_names,
-      domain = list(soma_joinid=c(2, 99))
+      domain = list(soma_joinid=c(3, 2))
     )
   )
 
@@ -207,12 +207,21 @@ test_that("soma_joinid domain lower bound must be zero", {
     )
   )
 
+  expect_error(
+    SOMADataFrameCreate(
+      uri,
+      asch,
+      index_column_names = index_column_names,
+      domain = list(soma_joinid=c(-1, 0))
+    )
+  )
+
   expect_no_condition(
     SOMADataFrameCreate(
       uri,
       asch,
       index_column_names = index_column_names,
-      domain = list(soma_joinid=c(0, 99))
+      domain = list(soma_joinid=c(2, 99))
     )
   )