diff --git a/src/com/jdbernard/teammaker/WeightedChooser.groovy b/src/com/jdbernard/teammaker/WeightedChooser.groovy
index 5b80149..eafd5b4 100644
--- a/src/com/jdbernard/teammaker/WeightedChooser.groovy
+++ b/src/com/jdbernard/teammaker/WeightedChooser.groovy
@@ -45,6 +45,12 @@ public class WeightedChooser extends PlayerChooser {
     }
 
     protected int getThreshold(def players) {
-        return (players.max { it.gamesSat }).gamesSat - hardLimit
+        int highest = (players.max { it.gamesSat }).gamesSat
+
+        // everyone has 0 games sat, no threshold
+        if (highest == 0) return 0; 
+
+        // if any players have sat at least one game, exclude those that haven't
+        return Math.max(highest - hardLimit, 1)
     }
 }