diff --git a/Code/Mantid/Framework/Algorithms/src/Stitch1D.cpp b/Code/Mantid/Framework/Algorithms/src/Stitch1D.cpp
index 129a0391a319..9f37a193913a 100644
--- a/Code/Mantid/Framework/Algorithms/src/Stitch1D.cpp
+++ b/Code/Mantid/Framework/Algorithms/src/Stitch1D.cpp
@@ -463,7 +463,7 @@ namespace Mantid
       }
       scaleFactor = ratio->readY(0).front();
       errorScaleFactor = ratio->readE(0).front();
-      if(scaleFactor == 0 || boost::math::isnan(scaleFactor))
+      if(scaleFactor < 1e-2 || scaleFactor > 1e2  || boost::math::isnan(scaleFactor))
       {
         std::stringstream messageBuffer;
         messageBuffer << "Stitch1D calculated scale factor is: " << scaleFactor << ". Check that in both input workspaces the integrated overlap region is non-zero.";