diff --git a/src/meshTools/searchableSurface/searchableSphere.C b/src/meshTools/searchableSurface/searchableSphere.C
index 04f3f2f2b5..74ac1929a6 100644
--- a/src/meshTools/searchableSurface/searchableSphere.C
+++ b/src/meshTools/searchableSurface/searchableSphere.C
@@ -292,7 +292,8 @@ void Foam::searchableSphere::getNormal
         if (info[i].hit())
         {
             normal[i] = info[i].hitPoint() - centre_;
-            normal[i] /= mag(normal[i]);
+
+            normal[i] /= mag(normal[i])+VSMALL;
         }
         else
         {