diff --git a/public/java/src/org/broadinstitute/sting/utils/GenomeLoc.java b/public/java/src/org/broadinstitute/sting/utils/GenomeLoc.java
index b96923589..b66198713 100644
--- a/public/java/src/org/broadinstitute/sting/utils/GenomeLoc.java
+++ b/public/java/src/org/broadinstitute/sting/utils/GenomeLoc.java
@@ -306,7 +306,7 @@ public class GenomeLoc implements Comparable<GenomeLoc>, Serializable, HasGenome
     
     @Override
     public int hashCode() {
-        return (int)( start << 16 + stop << 4 + contigIndex );
+        return start << 16 | stop << 4 | contigIndex;
     }