A housing for a pump having a cavity therein formed by first and second side walls connected to first and second semicircular end walls. A pair of intermeshing gear members are journaled in a floating bearing and a fixed bearing are located in the cavity. The intermeshing gear members respond to a clockwise rotary torque to pressurize fluid in transporting a fluid from an entrance chamber to a discharge chamber. The fluid in the discharge chamber acts on and urges the floating bearing and fixed bearing into engagement with portions of the first and second semicircular end walls and first side wall to seal the entrance chamber from the discharge chamber. The intermeshing gear members respond to a counterclockwise torque by transporting fluid from the discharge chamber to the entrance chamber to develop an internal fluid pressure. The internal fluid pressure acts on and urges the floating and fixed bearings toward the first and second semicircular end walls and second side wall. The housing has an axial slot that extends from a first point in the first semicircular wall, and through the second side wall to a second point in the second semicircular wall such that the floating and fixed bearing do not seal the discharge chamber from the entrance chamber and as a result the development of the internal pressure is limited to a function of the depth of the axial slot.