diff --git a/java/src/org/broadinstitute/sting/playground/gatk/walkers/Recalibration/NQSExtendedGroupsCovariantWalker.java b/java/src/org/broadinstitute/sting/playground/gatk/walkers/Recalibration/NQSExtendedGroupsCovariantWalker.java
index f268ef4b9..9b7289f5c 100755
--- a/java/src/org/broadinstitute/sting/playground/gatk/walkers/Recalibration/NQSExtendedGroupsCovariantWalker.java
+++ b/java/src/org/broadinstitute/sting/playground/gatk/walkers/Recalibration/NQSExtendedGroupsCovariantWalker.java
@@ -97,6 +97,8 @@ public class NQSExtendedGroupsCovariantWalker extends LocusWalker<LocalMapType,
         int groupNumber = (baseQuality)*(baseQuality+1)/2 + baseQuality;
         if ( minNeighborhoodQuality <= baseQuality ) {
             groupNumber += minNeighborhoodQuality;
+        } else {
+            groupNumber += baseQuality; // yes we want to do this
         }
 
         return groupNumber;