diff --git a/java/src/org/broadinstitute/sting/gatk/walkers/indels/IndelRealigner.java b/java/src/org/broadinstitute/sting/gatk/walkers/indels/IndelRealigner.java
index 5091cc33f..4a814b1a0 100755
--- a/java/src/org/broadinstitute/sting/gatk/walkers/indels/IndelRealigner.java
+++ b/java/src/org/broadinstitute/sting/gatk/walkers/indels/IndelRealigner.java
@@ -767,7 +767,7 @@ public class IndelRealigner extends ReadWalker<Integer, Integer> {
 
     // create a Consensus from just the indel string that falls on the reference
     private Consensus createAlternateConsensus(final int indexOnRef, final byte[] reference, final byte[] indelStr, final boolean isDeletion) {
-        if ( indexOnRef < 0 )
+        if ( indexOnRef < 0 || indexOnRef >= reference.length )
             return null;
 
         // create the new consensus