diff --git a/src/modes/list.rs b/src/modes/list.rs
index c65c57c..759b04f 100644
--- a/src/modes/list.rs
+++ b/src/modes/list.rs
@@ -113,10 +113,19 @@ pub fn mode_list(
 
             let mut meta_name: Option<&str> = None;
             
-            // Parse max_len, handling both numbers and percentages
+            // Parse max_len, handling numbers, percentages, and negative values
             let column_width = if let Some(max_len_str) = &column.max_len {
                 debug!("Processing max_len for column '{}': {}", column.name, max_len_str);
-                if max_len_str.ends_with('%') {
+                // Check if it's a negative number
+                if max_len_str.starts_with('-') {
+                    // Parse as negative number
+                    let abs_value = max_len_str[1..].parse::<usize>().unwrap_or(0);
+                    if abs_value > term_width {
+                        0
+                    } else {
+                        term_width - abs_value
+                    }
+                } else if max_len_str.ends_with('%') {
                     // Parse percentage
                     let percent_str = max_len_str.trim_end_matches('%');
                     let percent = percent_str.parse::<f64>().unwrap_or(0.0);