diff --git a/nextjs/src/models/local/assignment/utils/assignmentPointsUtils.ts b/nextjs/src/models/local/assignment/utils/assignmentPointsUtils.ts
index 17dd74c..0d10307 100644
--- a/nextjs/src/models/local/assignment/utils/assignmentPointsUtils.ts
+++ b/nextjs/src/models/local/assignment/utils/assignmentPointsUtils.ts
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
-import { LocalAssignment } from "../localAssignment";
+import { RubricItem } from "../rubricItem";
 
-export const assignmentPoints = (assignment: LocalAssignment) => {
-  const basePoints = assignment.rubric
+export const assignmentPoints = (rubric: RubricItem[]) => {
+  const basePoints = rubric
     .map((r) =>
       r.label.toLowerCase().includes("(extra credit)") ? 0 : r.points
     )
diff --git a/nextjs/src/services/canvas/canvasAssignmentService.ts b/nextjs/src/services/canvas/canvasAssignmentService.ts
index 5c6c4f2..8370a20 100644
--- a/nextjs/src/services/canvas/canvasAssignmentService.ts
+++ b/nextjs/src/services/canvas/canvasAssignmentService.ts
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ export const canvasAssignmentService = {
         lock_at:
           localAssignment.lockAt &&
           getDateFromString(localAssignment.lockAt)?.toISOString(),
-        points_possible: assignmentPoints(localAssignment),
+        points_possible: assignmentPoints(localAssignment.rubric),
         assignment_group_id: canvasAssignmentGroupId,
       },
     };
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ export const canvasAssignmentService = {
         lock_at:
           localAssignment.lockAt &&
           getDateFromString(localAssignment.lockAt)?.toISOString(),
-        points_possible: assignmentPoints(localAssignment),
+        points_possible: assignmentPoints(localAssignment.rubric),
         assignment_group_id: canvasAssignmentGroupId,
       },
     };
@@ -109,7 +109,7 @@ const createRubric = async (
   localAssignment: LocalAssignment
 ) => {
   const criterion = getRubricCriterion(localAssignment.rubric);
-  
+
   const rubricBody = {
     rubric_association_id: assignmentCanvasId,
     rubric: {
@@ -137,7 +137,7 @@ const createRubric = async (
 
   const assignmentPointAdjustmentUrl = `${canvasApi}/courses/${courseId}/assignments/${assignmentCanvasId}`;
   const assignmentPointAdjustmentBody = {
-    assignment: { points_possible: assignmentPoints(localAssignment) },
+    assignment: { points_possible: assignmentPoints(localAssignment.rubric) },
   };
 
   await axiosClient.put(
diff --git a/nextjs/src/services/canvas/rubric.test.ts b/nextjs/src/services/canvas/rubric.test.ts
index bb80e31..616518b 100644
--- a/nextjs/src/services/canvas/rubric.test.ts
+++ b/nextjs/src/services/canvas/rubric.test.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import { RubricItem } from "@/models/local/assignment/rubricItem";
 import { describe, expect, it } from "vitest";
 import { getRubricCriterion } from "./canvasRubricUtils";
+import { assignmentPoints } from "@/models/local/assignment/utils/assignmentPointsUtils";
 
 describe("can prepare rubric for canvas", () =>{
   it("can parse normal rubric into criterion", () =>{
@@ -69,4 +70,24 @@ describe("can prepare rubric for canvas", () =>{
       }
     })
   })
+
+
+  it("negative rubric items do not contribute to the total", () =>{
+    const rubric: RubricItem[] = [
+      {
+        label: "first",
+        points: 1
+      },
+      {
+        label: "second",
+        points: -2
+      },
+      {
+        label: "second",
+        points: 3
+      },
+    ]
+    const points = assignmentPoints(rubric)
+    expect(points).toBe(4)
+  })
 })
\ No newline at end of file