diff --git a/modules/Markov.py b/modules/Markov.py
index 675dad0..46b14f2 100644
--- a/modules/Markov.py
+++ b/modules/Markov.py
@@ -369,13 +369,23 @@ class Markov(Module):
                     # now work backwards until we randomly bump into a start
                     while True:
                         key_hits = self._retrieve_k2_for_value(working_backwards[0], context_id)
-                        if self.start2 in key_hits:
-                            self.log.debug("working backwards found start, finishing")
-                            gen_words = gen_words + working_backwards
+                        if self.start2 in key_hits and len(working_backwards) > 2:
+                            self.log.debug("working backwards forced start, finishing")
+                            gen_words += working_backwards
+                            self.log.debug("gen_words: {0:s}".format(" ".join(gen_words)))
+                            break
+                        elif len(key_hits) == 0:
+                            self.log.debug("no key_hits, finishing")
+                            gen_words += working_backwards
+                            self.log.debug("gen_words: {0:s}".format(" ".join(gen_words)))
+                            break
+                        elif len(key_hits) == 1 and self.start2 in key_hits:
+                            self.log.debug("only start2 in key_hits, finishing")
+                            gen_words += working_backwards
                             self.log.debug("gen_words: {0:s}".format(" ".join(gen_words)))
                             break
                         else:
-                            found_word = random.choice(filter(lambda a: a != self.stop, key_hits))
+                            found_word = random.choice(filter(lambda a: a != self.start2, key_hits))
                             working_backwards.insert(0, found_word)
                             self.log.debug("added '{0:s}' to working_backwards".format(found_word))
                             self.log.debug("working_backwards: {0:s}".format(" ".join(working_backwards)))