diff --git a/src/harpy/scripts/bxStats.py b/src/harpy/scripts/bxStats.py
index 6444defa7..6702cc435 100755
--- a/src/harpy/scripts/bxStats.py
+++ b/src/harpy/scripts/bxStats.py
@@ -94,7 +94,7 @@ def writestats(x,chr):
             # then it was already counted in the forward read
             ins_len = 0
         else:
-            ins_len = abs(ins_len)
+            ins_len = abs(tlen)
 
     # create bx entry if it's not present
     if mi not in d.keys():