diff --git a/HISTORY.md b/HISTORY.md
index b7e43cf..c423fe5 100644
--- a/HISTORY.md
+++ b/HISTORY.md
@@ -1,3 +1,7 @@
+- 0.4.23a
+
+* fix empty stats file [#61](https://github.com/miRTop/mirtop/issues/61) by @leontienvdbent
+
 - 0.4.22
 
 * fix when reads map halfway on to the edge
diff --git a/mirtop/gff/stats.py b/mirtop/gff/stats.py
index e2d65ca..ad3e7fe 100644
--- a/mirtop/gff/stats.py
+++ b/mirtop/gff/stats.py
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ def _calc_stats(fn):
             cols = gff.columns
             attr = gff.attributes
             logger.debug("## STATS: attribute %s" % attr)
-            if ok.match(attr['Filter']):
+            if not ok.match(attr['Filter']):
                 continue
             if "-".join([attr['UID'], attr['Variant'], attr['Name']]) in seen:
                 continue
diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index 6ca2a43..e7ad986 100644
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 import os
 from setuptools import setup, find_packages
 
-version = '0.4.22'
+version = '0.4.23a'
 
 url = 'http://github.com/mirtop/mirtop'
 
diff --git a/test/test_automated_analysis.py b/test/test_automated_analysis.py
index 890ae75..7e38d4a 100644
--- a/test/test_automated_analysis.py
+++ b/test/test_automated_analysis.py
@@ -307,20 +307,10 @@ def test_srnaseq_stats(self):
             print("")
             print(" ".join(clcode))
             subprocess.check_call(clcode)
-
-    @attr(complete=True)
-    @attr(cmd_stats=True)
-    @attr(cmd=True)
-    def test_srnaseq_stats(self):
-        """Run stats analysis
-        """
-        with make_workdir():
-            clcode = ["mirtop",
-                      "stats",
-                      "../../data/examples/gff/correct_file.gff"]
-            print("")
-            print(" ".join(clcode))
-            subprocess.check_call(clcode)
+            if not os.path.exists("test_out_mirs/mirtop_stats.txt"):
+                raise ValueError("File doesn't exist, something is wrong with stats cmd.")
+            if sum(1 for line in open('test_out_mirs/mirtop_stats.txt')) == 1:
+                raise ValueError("File is empty, something is wrong with stats cmd.")
 
     @attr(complete=True)
     @attr(cmd_merge=True)