diff --git a/src/scratchpad/src/org/apache/poi/hwpf/usermodel/Range.java b/src/scratchpad/src/org/apache/poi/hwpf/usermodel/Range.java
index b8fe62c5c..47cba3f95 100644
--- a/src/scratchpad/src/org/apache/poi/hwpf/usermodel/Range.java
+++ b/src/scratchpad/src/org/apache/poi/hwpf/usermodel/Range.java
@@ -1251,7 +1251,7 @@ public class Range { // TODO -instantiable superclass
     {
         if ( _start < 0 )
             throw new AssertionError();
-        if ( _start >= _text.length() )
+        if ( _start > _text.length() )
             throw new AssertionError();
         if ( _end < 0 )
             throw new AssertionError();