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 9b7289f5c..228dc69ba 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
@@ -94,7 +94,7 @@ public class NQSExtendedGroupsCovariantWalker extends LocusWalker<LocalMapType,
      * etc
      */
     public int calcGroupNumberFromQualities( int baseQuality, int minNeighborhoodQuality ) {
-        int groupNumber = (baseQuality)*(baseQuality+1)/2 + baseQuality;
+        int groupNumber = (baseQuality)*(baseQuality+1)/2;
         if ( minNeighborhoodQuality <= baseQuality ) {
             groupNumber += minNeighborhoodQuality;
         } else {