diff --git a/libntfs/runlist.c b/libntfs/runlist.c
index 3e7b1763..722505da 100644
--- a/libntfs/runlist.c
+++ b/libntfs/runlist.c
@@ -111,8 +111,11 @@ static __inline__ BOOL ntfs_rl_are_mergeable(runlist_element *dst,
 		return FALSE;
 	}
 
-	if ((dst->lcn < 0) || (src->lcn < 0))     /* Are we merging holes? */
+	if ((dst->lcn < 0) || (src->lcn < 0)) {    /* Are we merging holes? */
+		if (dst->lcn == LCN_HOLE && src->lcn == LCN_HOLE)
+			return TRUE;
 		return FALSE;
+	}
 	if ((dst->lcn + dst->length) != src->lcn) /* Are the runs contiguous? */
 		return FALSE;
 	if ((dst->vcn + dst->length) != src->vcn) /* Are the runs misaligned? */