diff --git a/include/backtrace/backtrace.h b/include/backtrace/backtrace.h
index b35a6d53a..a83398240 100644
--- a/include/backtrace/backtrace.h
+++ b/include/backtrace/backtrace.h
@@ -23,6 +23,14 @@
 
 __BEGIN_DECLS
 
+// When the pid to be traced is set to this value, then trace the current
+// process. If the tid value is not BACKTRACE_NO_TID, then the specified
+// thread from the current process will be traced.
+#define BACKTRACE_CURRENT_PROCESS -1
+// When the tid to be traced is set to this value, then trace the specified
+// pid.
+#define BACKTRACE_NO_TID -1
+
 #define MAX_BACKTRACE_FRAMES 64
 
 typedef struct backtrace_map_info {
diff --git a/libbacktrace/Backtrace.cpp b/libbacktrace/Backtrace.cpp
index 17d9e1d90..b22d30114 100644
--- a/libbacktrace/Backtrace.cpp
+++ b/libbacktrace/Backtrace.cpp
@@ -213,13 +213,13 @@ bool BacktracePtrace::ReadWord(uintptr_t ptr, uint32_t* out_value) {
 }
 
 Backtrace* Backtrace::Create(pid_t pid, pid_t tid) {
-  if (pid < 0 || pid == getpid()) {
-    if (tid < 0 || tid == gettid()) {
+  if (pid == BACKTRACE_CURRENT_PROCESS || pid == getpid()) {
+    if (tid == BACKTRACE_NO_TID || tid == gettid()) {
       return CreateCurrentObj();
     } else {
       return CreateThreadObj(tid);
     }
-  } else if (tid < 0) {
+  } else if (tid == BACKTRACE_NO_TID) {
     return CreatePtraceObj(pid, pid);
   } else {
     return CreatePtraceObj(pid, tid);