diff --git a/java/src/org/broadinstitute/sting/utils/GenomeLoc.java b/java/src/org/broadinstitute/sting/utils/GenomeLoc.java
index e6b0a39d1..b75def849 100644
--- a/java/src/org/broadinstitute/sting/utils/GenomeLoc.java
+++ b/java/src/org/broadinstitute/sting/utils/GenomeLoc.java
@@ -481,6 +481,12 @@ public class GenomeLoc implements Comparable<GenomeLoc>, Cloneable {
         }
         return false;
     }
+    
+    @Override
+    public int hashCode() {
+        return (int)( start << 16 + stop << 4 + contigIndex );
+    }
+
 
     /**
      * Return a new GenomeLoc at this same position.