diff --git a/java/src/org/broadinstitute/sting/gatk/refdata/AllelicVariant.java b/java/src/org/broadinstitute/sting/gatk/refdata/AllelicVariant.java
index 4671848d0..0e1ccd313 100644
--- a/java/src/org/broadinstitute/sting/gatk/refdata/AllelicVariant.java
+++ b/java/src/org/broadinstitute/sting/gatk/refdata/AllelicVariant.java
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ import java.util.List;
  * Time: 11:02:03 AM
  * To change this template use File | Settings | File Templates.
  */
-public interface AllelicVariant extends Comparable<ReferenceOrderedDatum> {
+public interface AllelicVariant extends ReferenceOrderedDatum {
     // ----------------------------------------------------------------------
     //
     // manipulating the SNP information
diff --git a/java/src/org/broadinstitute/sting/gatk/refdata/rodFLT.java b/java/src/org/broadinstitute/sting/gatk/refdata/rodFLT.java
index 42180ac8f..11761f58f 100755
--- a/java/src/org/broadinstitute/sting/gatk/refdata/rodFLT.java
+++ b/java/src/org/broadinstitute/sting/gatk/refdata/rodFLT.java
@@ -37,7 +37,10 @@ public class rodFLT extends TabularROD implements SNPCallFromGenotypes {
     public double getMAF()         { return 0.0; }
     public double getHeterozygosity() { return 0.0; }
     public boolean isGenotype()    { return false; }
-    public double getVariationConfidence() { return Double.parseDouble(this.get("6")); }
+    public double getVariationConfidence() {
+        double value = Double.parseDouble(this.get("6"));
+        return (value > 0.0 ? value : 1.0);
+    }
     public double getConsensusConfidence() { return -1; }
     public List<String> getGenotype() throws IllegalStateException { throw new IllegalStateException(); }
     public int getPloidy() throws IllegalStateException { return 2; }