diff --git a/src/protocol/mail/src/main/java/org/apache/jmeter/protocol/mail/sampler/MailReaderSampler.java b/src/protocol/mail/src/main/java/org/apache/jmeter/protocol/mail/sampler/MailReaderSampler.java
index 7056d962818..a369c31d0ae 100644
--- a/src/protocol/mail/src/main/java/org/apache/jmeter/protocol/mail/sampler/MailReaderSampler.java
+++ b/src/protocol/mail/src/main/java/org/apache/jmeter/protocol/mail/sampler/MailReaderSampler.java
@@ -220,7 +220,7 @@ public SampleResult sample(Entry e) {
             }
 
             // Get directory
-            Message[] messages = folder.getMessages(1,n);
+            Message[] messages = folder.getMessages(messageTotal - n + 1, messageTotal);
             String pdata = messages.length + " messages found\n";
             parent.setResponseData(pdata,null);
             parent.setDataType(SampleResult.TEXT);