diff --git a/public/scala/src/org/broadinstitute/sting/queue/engine/JobRunInfo.scala b/public/scala/src/org/broadinstitute/sting/queue/engine/JobRunInfo.scala
index 07bf1d1da..2316f3968 100644
--- a/public/scala/src/org/broadinstitute/sting/queue/engine/JobRunInfo.scala
+++ b/public/scala/src/org/broadinstitute/sting/queue/engine/JobRunInfo.scala
@@ -67,7 +67,10 @@ class JobRunInfo {
   def getHostname = hostName
 
   def getRuntimeInMs: Long = {
-    getDoneTime.getTime - getStartTime.getTime
+    if ( getDoneTime != null && getStartTime != null )
+      getDoneTime.getTime - getStartTime.getTime
+    else
+      -1
   }
 
   override def toString: String =