diff --git a/intact/intact.py b/intact/intact.py
index 3344659..584ae26 100644
--- a/intact/intact.py
+++ b/intact/intact.py
@@ -795,7 +795,7 @@ def intact( working_dir,
 
     reference = st.subtype_sequence(subtype)
     blast_it = blast_iterate(subtype, input_file) if check_internal_inversion or check_nonhiv or check_scramble else iterate_empty_lists()
-    blast_rows = []
+    blast_rows = next(blast_it)
 
     for sequence in iterate_sequences(input_file):
         sequence_errors = []