diff --git a/src/harpy/scripts/bxStats.py b/src/harpy/scripts/bxStats.py
index 6702cc435..5cf30d891 100755
--- a/src/harpy/scripts/bxStats.py
+++ b/src/harpy/scripts/bxStats.py
@@ -95,6 +95,8 @@ def writestats(x,chr):
             ins_len = 0
         else:
             ins_len = abs(tlen)
+    else:
+        ins_len = tlen
 
     # create bx entry if it's not present
     if mi not in d.keys():