diff --git a/Modules/Numerics/Optimizers/src/itkCumulativeGaussianCostFunction.cxx b/Modules/Numerics/Optimizers/src/itkCumulativeGaussianCostFunction.cxx
index 8f725240ffe..1b3e314e81f 100644
--- a/Modules/Numerics/Optimizers/src/itkCumulativeGaussianCostFunction.cxx
+++ b/Modules/Numerics/Optimizers/src/itkCumulativeGaussianCostFunction.cxx
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ CumulativeGaussianCostFunction::CalculateFitError(MeasureType * setTestArray)
   // Use root mean square error as a measure of fit quality.
   unsigned int numberOfElements = m_OriginalDataArray.GetNumberOfElements();
 
-  if (numberOfElements != setTestArray->GetNumberOfElements())
+  if (numberOfElements == 0 || numberOfElements != setTestArray->GetNumberOfElements())
   {
     return 1;
   }