--- a/backend/dotcode.c
+++ b/backend/dotcode.c
@@ -532,7 +532,7 @@
         if (symbol->output_options & READER_INIT) {
             codeword_array[ap++] = 109; /* FNC3 */
 
-        } else if (!gs1 && eci == 0 && length > 2 && z_is_twodigits(source, length, 0)) {
+        } else if (!gs1 && eci == 0 && length >= 2 && z_is_twodigits(source, length, 0)) {
             codeword_array[ap++] = 107; /* FNC1 */
 
         } else if (z_posn(lead_specials, source[0]) != -1) {