diff --git a/public/java/src/org/broadinstitute/sting/utils/sam/GATKSAMRecord.java b/public/java/src/org/broadinstitute/sting/utils/sam/GATKSAMRecord.java
index 9fdb48b34..6c7a162f8 100755
--- a/public/java/src/org/broadinstitute/sting/utils/sam/GATKSAMRecord.java
+++ b/public/java/src/org/broadinstitute/sting/utils/sam/GATKSAMRecord.java
@@ -397,6 +397,9 @@ public class GATKSAMRecord extends BAMRecord {
                 else if (op != CigarOperator.HARD_CLIP)
                     break;
             }
+
+            if ( softStart < 1 )
+                softStart = 1;
         }
         return softStart;
     }