Cutter diameter compensation question.

Just a quick question about cutter diameter compensation. In my past life working on old Cincinnati VMC's, we used to modify programs that were written without using CDC to use it by simply adding the g41/42 codes and then using the difference between actual cutter diameter and the programmed nominal cutter diameter in the tool table. For example, a program written to use a 0.500" end mill could be run with a resharpened 0.490" diameter end mill by entering -0.010" in the tool table. This however requires the software to be able to take that negative number. So, can LinuxCNC handle a negative diameter in the tool table and have CDC work as expected?

Thanks in advance.