diff --git a/lib/tasks/gather.js b/lib/tasks/gather.js
index 46f88272..5aaec43c 100644
--- a/lib/tasks/gather.js
+++ b/lib/tasks/gather.js
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ class TaskGather extends Task {
     this.timeout = this.timeout === 0 ? 0 : (this.timeout || 15) * 1000;
     this.interim = !!this.partialResultHook || this.bargein;
     this.listenDuringPrompt = this.data.listenDuringPrompt === false ? false : true;
-    this.minBargeinWordCount = this.data.minBargeinWordCount || 0;
+    this.minBargeinWordCount = this.data.minBargeinWordCount || 1;
     if (this.data.recognizer) {
       const recognizer = this.data.recognizer;
       this.vendor = recognizer.vendor;