diff --git a/java/src/org/broadinstitute/sting/gatk/CommandLineGATK.java b/java/src/org/broadinstitute/sting/gatk/CommandLineGATK.java
index 806b922ed..2a945a5c9 100755
--- a/java/src/org/broadinstitute/sting/gatk/CommandLineGATK.java
+++ b/java/src/org/broadinstitute/sting/gatk/CommandLineGATK.java
@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@ public class CommandLineGATK extends CommandLineExecutable {
         
         final int fieldWidth = maxNameLength + HelpFormatter.FIELD_SEPARATION_WIDTH;
         final int walkersPerLine = Math.min(HelpFormatter.LINE_WIDTH / fieldWidth, 4 );
-        final int columnSpacing = (HelpFormatter.LINE_WIDTH - (fieldWidth * walkersPerLine)) / walkersPerLine;
+        final int columnSpacing = Math.max((HelpFormatter.LINE_WIDTH - (fieldWidth * walkersPerLine)) / walkersPerLine, 1);
 
         int currentWalkerName = 0;
         for( String walkerName: walkerNames ) {