diff --git a/uk/ac/sanger/artemis/editor/FastaTextPane.java b/uk/ac/sanger/artemis/editor/FastaTextPane.java
index b186cfdcacc689cd16bf5a76a100ba35e417d1be..dc50a5da75a3928ba46e4b57c03fb3be96955c95 100644
--- a/uk/ac/sanger/artemis/editor/FastaTextPane.java
+++ b/uk/ac/sanger/artemis/editor/FastaTextPane.java
@@ -1060,6 +1060,8 @@ public class FastaTextPane extends JScrollPane
             if(ind1 > -1)
             {
               int ind2 = line.indexOf(';');
+              if(ind2 < 0)
+                ind2 = line.length();
               thisHit.setEC_number(line.substring(3, ind2).trim());
             }
           }