diff --git a/public/java/src/org/broadinstitute/sting/commandline/ArgumentTypeDescriptor.java b/public/java/src/org/broadinstitute/sting/commandline/ArgumentTypeDescriptor.java
index b54e7c7b1..d1d9cf7fe 100644
--- a/public/java/src/org/broadinstitute/sting/commandline/ArgumentTypeDescriptor.java
+++ b/public/java/src/org/broadinstitute/sting/commandline/ArgumentTypeDescriptor.java
@@ -381,7 +381,7 @@ class RodBindingArgumentTypeDescriptor extends ArgumentTypeDescriptor {
                     if ( tribbleType == null )
                         if ( ! file.exists() ) {
                             throw new UserException.CouldNotReadInputFile(file, "file does not exist");
-                        } else if ( ! file.canRead() | ! file.isFile() ) {
+                        } else if ( ! file.canRead() || ! file.isFile() ) {
                             throw new UserException.CouldNotReadInputFile(file, "file could not be read");
                         } else {
                             throw new UserException.CommandLineException(