diff --git a/lucene/src/java/org/apache/lucene/util/automaton/State.java b/lucene/src/java/org/apache/lucene/util/automaton/State.java
index 52bed7192e0..88f318d9189 100644
--- a/lucene/src/java/org/apache/lucene/util/automaton/State.java
+++ b/lucene/src/java/org/apache/lucene/util/automaton/State.java
@@ -232,7 +232,8 @@ public class State implements Serializable, Comparable<State> {
   
   /** Sorts transitions array in-place. */
   public void sortTransitions(Comparator<Transition> comparator) {
-    Arrays.sort(transitionsArray, 0, numTransitions, comparator);
+    if (numTransitions > 1)
+      Arrays.sort(transitionsArray, 0, numTransitions, comparator);
   }
   
   /**