diff --git a/src/pow.cpp b/src/pow.cpp
index e29b7f7a7..ac27e5d34 100644
--- a/src/pow.cpp
+++ b/src/pow.cpp
@@ -391,7 +391,7 @@ unsigned int GetNextWorkRequired(const CBlockIndex* pindexLast, const CBlockHead
         bnTarget = arith_uint256().SetCompact(nbits);
         if ( height > (int32_t)(sizeof(ct)/sizeof(*ct)) && pblock != 0 && tipdiff > 0 )
         {
-            easy.SetCompact(KOMODO_MINDIFF_NBITS,&fNegative,&fOverflow);
+            easy.SetCompact(KOMODO_MINDIFF_NBITS & (~3),&fNegative,&fOverflow);
             if ( pblock != 0 )
             {
                 origtarget = bnTarget;
@@ -442,7 +442,7 @@ unsigned int GetNextWorkRequired(const CBlockIndex* pindexLast, const CBlockHead
                 {
                     bnTarget = easy;
                     fprintf(stderr,"cmp.%d mult.%d ht.%d -> easy target\n",mult>1,(int32_t)mult,height);
-                    return(KOMODO_MINDIFF_NBITS);
+                    return(KOMODO_MINDIFF_NBITS & (~3));
                 }
                 {
                     int32_t z;