diff --git a/lib/ft4/get_ft4_bitmetrics.f90 b/lib/ft4/get_ft4_bitmetrics.f90
index 6d87485e8..eba86a418 100644
--- a/lib/ft4/get_ft4_bitmetrics.f90
+++ b/lib/ft4/get_ft4_bitmetrics.f90
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-subroutine get_ft4_bitmetrics(cd,smax,bitmetrics,badsync)
+subroutine get_ft4_bitmetrics(cd,bitmetrics,badsync)
 
    include 'ft4_params.f90'
    parameter (NSS=NSPS/NDOWN,NDMAX=NMAX/NDOWN)
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ subroutine get_ft4_bitmetrics(cd,smax,bitmetrics,badsync)
       if(icos4d(k-1).eq.(ip(1)-1)) is4=is4+1
    enddo
    nsync=is1+is2+is3+is4   !Number of correct hard sync symbols, 0-16
-   if(smax .lt. 0.7 .or. nsync .lt. 8) then
+   if(nsync .lt. 8) then
       badsync=.true.
       return
    endif
diff --git a/lib/ft4_decode.f90 b/lib/ft4_decode.f90
index bd42c0450..28c044c77 100644
--- a/lib/ft4_decode.f90
+++ b/lib/ft4_decode.f90
@@ -269,6 +269,7 @@ contains
                enddo
                call timer('sync4d  ',1)
             enddo
+            if(smax.lt.0.7) cycle
             f0=f0+real(idfbest)
             if( f0.le.10.0 .or. f0.ge.4990.0 ) cycle
             call timer('ft4down ',0)
@@ -286,7 +287,7 @@ contains
             endif 
 
             call timer('bitmet  ',0)
-            call get_ft4_bitmetrics(cd,smax,bitmetrics,badsync)
+            call get_ft4_bitmetrics(cd,bitmetrics,badsync)
             call timer('bitmet  ',1)
             if(badsync) cycle