diff --git a/public/java/src/org/broadinstitute/sting/gatk/refdata/RefMetaDataTracker.java b/public/java/src/org/broadinstitute/sting/gatk/refdata/RefMetaDataTracker.java
index 0e13e4ad9..2c2ee51bb 100644
--- a/public/java/src/org/broadinstitute/sting/gatk/refdata/RefMetaDataTracker.java
+++ b/public/java/src/org/broadinstitute/sting/gatk/refdata/RefMetaDataTracker.java
@@ -47,6 +47,14 @@ public class RefMetaDataTracker {
     //
     // ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
+    /**
+     * Only for testing -- not accesssible in any other context
+     */
+    public RefMetaDataTracker() {
+        ref = null;
+        map = Collections.emptyMap();
+    }
+
     public RefMetaDataTracker(final Collection<RODRecordList> allBindings, final ReferenceContext ref) {
         this.ref = ref;