diff --git a/public/java/src/org/broadinstitute/sting/utils/clipreads/ReadClipper.java b/public/java/src/org/broadinstitute/sting/utils/clipreads/ReadClipper.java
index e2ecbe46b..d0e7f8371 100644
--- a/public/java/src/org/broadinstitute/sting/utils/clipreads/ReadClipper.java
+++ b/public/java/src/org/broadinstitute/sting/utils/clipreads/ReadClipper.java
@@ -145,7 +145,7 @@ public class ReadClipper {
                     cutLeft = readIndex + cigarElement.getLength() - 1;
                 }
             }
-            else
+            else if (cigarElement.getOperator() != CigarOperator.HARD_CLIP)
                 rightTail = true;
 
             if (cigarElement.getOperator().consumesReadBases())