diff --git a/v1/test/cases/testdata/v0/numbersrange/test-numbersrange-0258.yaml b/v1/test/cases/testdata/v0/numbersrange/test-numbersrange-0258.yaml
index b2fe4f23cb..1e8dd378ba 100644
--- a/v1/test/cases/testdata/v0/numbersrange/test-numbersrange-0258.yaml
+++ b/v1/test/cases/testdata/v0/numbersrange/test-numbersrange-0258.yaml
@@ -19,3 +19,20 @@ cases:
           - -1
           - -2
           - -3
+  - note: numbersrange/descending (cheap optimization)
+    query: data.generated.p = x
+    modules:
+      - |
+        package generated
+
+        p := __local0__ {
+        	numbers.range(5, 2, __local1__)
+        	__local0__ = __local1__
+        }
+    data: {}
+    want_result:
+      - x:
+          - 5
+          - 4
+          - 3
+          - 2
diff --git a/v1/test/cases/testdata/v0/numbersrangestep/test-numbersrangestep.yaml b/v1/test/cases/testdata/v0/numbersrangestep/test-numbersrangestep.yaml
index a203acc3ce..dc05e621a5 100644
--- a/v1/test/cases/testdata/v0/numbersrangestep/test-numbersrangestep.yaml
+++ b/v1/test/cases/testdata/v0/numbersrangestep/test-numbersrangestep.yaml
@@ -34,6 +34,21 @@ cases:
           - -6
           - -8
           - -10
+  - note: numbersrangestep/descending (cheap optimization)
+    query: data.test.p = x
+    modules:
+      - |
+        package test
+
+        p = num {
+          num := numbers.range_step(10, 3, 2)
+        }
+    want_result:
+      - x:
+          - 10
+          - 8
+          - 6
+          - 4
   - note: numbersrangestep/negative
     query: data.test.p = x
     modules:
diff --git a/v1/test/cases/testdata/v1/numbersrange/test-numbersrange-0258.yaml b/v1/test/cases/testdata/v1/numbersrange/test-numbersrange-0258.yaml
index 65f480ff25..15f1d2d2c2 100644
--- a/v1/test/cases/testdata/v1/numbersrange/test-numbersrange-0258.yaml
+++ b/v1/test/cases/testdata/v1/numbersrange/test-numbersrange-0258.yaml
@@ -19,3 +19,20 @@ cases:
           - -1
           - -2
           - -3
+  - note: numbersrange/descending (cheap optimization)
+    query: data.generated.p = x
+    modules:
+      - |
+        package generated
+
+        p := __local0__ if {
+        	numbers.range(5, 2, __local1__)
+        	__local0__ = __local1__
+        }
+    data: {}
+    want_result:
+      - x:
+          - 5
+          - 4
+          - 3
+          - 2
diff --git a/v1/test/cases/testdata/v1/numbersrangestep/test-numbersrangestep.yaml b/v1/test/cases/testdata/v1/numbersrangestep/test-numbersrangestep.yaml
index 92d922f08a..4851274d0a 100644
--- a/v1/test/cases/testdata/v1/numbersrangestep/test-numbersrangestep.yaml
+++ b/v1/test/cases/testdata/v1/numbersrangestep/test-numbersrangestep.yaml
@@ -34,6 +34,21 @@ cases:
           - -6
           - -8
           - -10
+  - note: numbersrangestep/descending (cheap optimization)
+    query: data.test.p = x
+    modules:
+      - |
+        package test
+
+        p = num if {
+          num := numbers.range_step(10, 3, 2)
+        }
+    want_result:
+      - x:
+          - 10
+          - 8
+          - 6
+          - 4
   - note: numbersrangestep/negative
     query: data.test.p = x
     modules:
diff --git a/v1/topdown/numbers.go b/v1/topdown/numbers.go
index 4f25879efe..05a4f96f0e 100644
--- a/v1/topdown/numbers.go
+++ b/v1/topdown/numbers.go
@@ -107,8 +107,14 @@ func generateCheapRange(operands []*ast.Term, iter func(*ast.Term) error) error
 
 	terms := make([]*ast.Term, 0, y+1)
 
-	for i := x; i <= y; i += step {
-		terms = append(terms, ast.InternedIntNumberTerm(i))
+	if x <= y {
+		for i := x; i <= y; i += step {
+			terms = append(terms, ast.InternedIntNumberTerm(i))
+		}
+	} else {
+		for i := x; i >= y; i -= step {
+			terms = append(terms, ast.InternedIntNumberTerm(i))
+		}
 	}
 
 	return iter(ast.ArrayTerm(terms...))