diff --git a/image_analysis/scale_merge/SearchSpaceGroup.cpp b/image_analysis/scale_merge/SearchSpaceGroup.cpp
index a355c281..4871cd5c 100644
--- a/image_analysis/scale_merge/SearchSpaceGroup.cpp
+++ b/image_analysis/scale_merge/SearchSpaceGroup.cpp
@@ -732,9 +732,16 @@ SearchSpaceGroupResult SearchSpaceGroup(
         // control rows, and on the same crystal one row can be 20x an average reflection while another
         // is half of one. Pooling them lets the weak rows set the threshold for the strong one and the
         // rescue never fires (that very crystal pooled to a row median of 0.7 and stayed at P42_12).
+        // A row needs more than a reflection or two behind its median before that median may set the
+        // threshold. The scale only ever RAISES the cut, so a row whose control class holds one strong
+        // reflection would license a screw claim the row does not support - a genuine 4_2 whose 00l are
+        // observed only at l=4n, strongly, would read its l=4n+2 reflections as absent and be reported as
+        // 4_1/4_3. Below this count the row falls back to the plain cut, i.e. no rescue.
+        constexpr size_t MIN_ROW_CONTROL_REFLECTIONS = 3;
         std::map<AxialRow, double> row_median;
         for (auto& [row, esq] : row_present_esq)
-            row_median[row] = MedianOf(esq);
+            if (esq.size() >= MIN_ROW_CONTROL_REFLECTIONS)
+                row_median[row] = MedianOf(esq);
 
         const int screw_absent = static_cast<int>(screw_absent_refl.size());
         int screw_violations = 0;