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