diff --git a/mine.lua b/mine.lua
index 4d7fd55..6b334f3 100644
--- a/mine.lua
+++ b/mine.lua
@@ -289,8 +289,8 @@ function splitHorizontal (block)
         take_amt = MED_DIM
     end
     -- decide whether to take a slice off of the x or z direction
-    -- (criteria: bite a piece off the bigger dimension)
-    if math.abs(block.v2.z) >= math.abs(block.v2.x) then
+    -- (criteria: bite a piece off the smaller dimension)
+    if math.abs(block.v2.z) <= math.abs(block.v2.x) then
         return block:take(take_amt, "z")
     else
         return block:take(take_amt, "x")