diff --git a/banana.py b/banana.py
index cfb5f16..e8504a9 100755
--- a/banana.py
+++ b/banana.py
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ def dec2banana(num, alphastart = None, shiftend = None, minlength = None, alphab
     #defaults
     if alphastart is None: alphastart = 0
     if shiftend is None: shiftend = 0
-    if minlength is None: minlength = 0
+    if minlength is None: minlength = 1
     if alphabet is None: alphabet = [list("bcdfglmnprstvz"), list("aeiou")]
     
     numdict = len(alphabet)