diff --git a/public/java/src/org/broadinstitute/sting/gatk/CommandLineGATK.java b/public/java/src/org/broadinstitute/sting/gatk/CommandLineGATK.java
index ce57d1a7a..1b41b85f4 100755
--- a/public/java/src/org/broadinstitute/sting/gatk/CommandLineGATK.java
+++ b/public/java/src/org/broadinstitute/sting/gatk/CommandLineGATK.java
@@ -137,6 +137,10 @@ public class CommandLineGATK extends CommandLineExecutable {
             exitSystemWithUserError(new UserException.NoSpaceOnDevice());
         if ( t.getCause() != null && t.getCause().getMessage().contains("No space left on device") )
             exitSystemWithUserError(new UserException.NoSpaceOnDevice());
+
+        // masked out of memory error
+        if ( t.getCause() != null && t.getCause() instanceof OutOfMemoryError )
+            exitSystemWithUserError(new UserException.NotEnoughMemory());
     }
 
     /**