diff --git a/lib/ulid/generate.rb b/lib/ulid/generate.rb
index fe205ee..0e5496b 100644
--- a/lib/ulid/generate.rb
+++ b/lib/ulid/generate.rb
@@ -19,10 +19,7 @@ def encode32
       b32 = value.to_s(32)
       b32.tr!(B32_RCF4648_FRAGMENT, B32_CROCKFORD_FRAGMENT)
       b32.upcase!
-
-      return "0#{b32}" if b32.length == 25
-
-      b32
+      b32.rjust(26, "0")
     end
 
     def encode16
diff --git a/spec/ulid_spec.rb b/spec/ulid_spec.rb
index e4052ea..81e418d 100644
--- a/spec/ulid_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/ulid_spec.rb
@@ -64,6 +64,10 @@
       expect(ulid_string).to be_instance_of(String)
     end
 
+    it 'generates the minimum ULID at the Unix epoch' do
+      expect(ULID.min_ulid_at(Time.at(0))).to eq("00000000000000000000000000")
+    end
+
     it 'generates the lowest lexicographical ULID' do
       expect(ulid_string).to match(/0000000000000000$/)
     end
@@ -265,6 +269,10 @@
         expect(other.bytes).to eq(first.bytes)
         expect(other.time).to eq(first.time)
       end
+
+      it 'pads the lowest possible encoded value to 26 characters' do
+        expect(ULID.new(0).ulid).to eq("00000000000000000000000000")
+      end
     end
 
     describe 'compared to other ULIDs' do