Accurate current polarity detection is a major issue for successful compensation of dead-time distortion in pulse-width-modulated (PWM) voltage source inverter. The present study is concerned with the concept of shift in current-zero-crossing due to dead-time distortion compensation that results in error in current polarity detection and thus causes a problem with regard to the successful continuation of compensation. The phenomenon is analysed in detail, along with its dependence on different factors. The proposed concept is validated in digital simulation and also through experimental verification. The study also recommends the possible correction to be incorporated in view of such zero-crossing shift for achieving proper compensation, especially in case of current-sensor-less compensation techniques.