diff --git a/image_analysis/scale_merge/RotationScaleMerge.cpp b/image_analysis/scale_merge/RotationScaleMerge.cpp
index 27012c7a..324a6c40 100644
--- a/image_analysis/scale_merge/RotationScaleMerge.cpp
+++ b/image_analysis/scale_merge/RotationScaleMerge.cpp
@@ -1520,6 +1520,12 @@ RotationScaleMerge::Result RotationScaleMerge::MergeAndStats(int n_groups, bool
         if (b_asy <= 0.0) b_asy = asymptote_above(10.0, 50);   // relaxed for weak / damaged data
         if (b_asy > 0.0) error_model_b_asymptotic = b_asy;
     }
+    // Guard a degenerate low-multiplicity fit: with too few symmetry equivalents both the (a, b) fit and
+    // the per-group scatter collapse toward zero, and 1/b then reports an impossibly high asymptotic
+    // I/sigma. Real macromolecular data does not exceed ISa ~50; past a generous cap treat the asymptote
+    // as unmeasured (result.isa left undetermined) rather than emit a spurious extreme.
+    constexpr double MIN_ASYMPTOTIC_B = 0.01;   // ISa cap 100
+    if (error_model_b_asymptotic < MIN_ASYMPTOTIC_B) error_model_b_asymptotic = 0.0;
     if (error_model_active)
         logger.Info("Error model: a={:.3f} b={:.3f} ISa={:.1f} chi2={:.2f}", error_model_a, error_model_b,
                     error_model_b_asymptotic > 0 ? 1.0 / error_model_b_asymptotic : 0.0, error_model_chi2);