diff --git a/elastalert/elastalert.py b/elastalert/elastalert.py
index 0a50223e5..5f54b115b 100755
--- a/elastalert/elastalert.py
+++ b/elastalert/elastalert.py
@@ -876,15 +876,16 @@ def run_rule(self, rule, endtime, starttime=None):
         rule['original_starttime'] = rule['starttime']
         rule['scrolling_cycle'] = 0
 
+        self.thread_data.num_hits = 0
+        self.thread_data.num_dupes = 0
+        self.thread_data.cumulative_hits = 0
+
         # Don't run if starttime was set to the future
         if ts_now() <= rule['starttime']:
             logging.warning("Attempted to use query start time in the future (%s), sleeping instead" % (starttime))
             return 0
 
         # Run the rule. If querying over a large time period, split it up into segments
-        self.thread_data.num_hits = 0
-        self.thread_data.num_dupes = 0
-        self.thread_data.cumulative_hits = 0
         segment_size = self.get_segment_size(rule)
 
         tmp_endtime = rule['starttime']
diff --git a/elastalert/ruletypes.py b/elastalert/ruletypes.py
index 2f1d2f82c..00ac4c621 100644
--- a/elastalert/ruletypes.py
+++ b/elastalert/ruletypes.py
@@ -318,12 +318,14 @@ def append(self, event):
         This will also pop the oldest events and call onRemoved on them until the
         window size is less than timeframe. """
         self.data.add(event)
-        self.running_count += event[1]
+        if event and event[1]:
+            self.running_count += event[1]
 
         while self.duration() >= self.timeframe:
             oldest = self.data[0]
             self.data.remove(oldest)
-            self.running_count -= oldest[1]
+            if oldest and oldest[1]:
+                self.running_count -= oldest[1]
             self.onRemoved and self.onRemoved(oldest)
 
     def duration(self):
@@ -363,7 +365,8 @@ def append_middle(self, event):
         # Append left if ts is earlier than first event
         if self.get_ts(self.data[0]) > ts:
             self.data.appendleft(event)
-            self.running_count += event[1]
+            if event and event[1]:
+                self.running_count += event[1]
             return
 
         # Rotate window until we can insert event
@@ -374,7 +377,8 @@ def append_middle(self, event):
                 # This should never happen
                 return
         self.data.append(event)
-        self.running_count += event[1]
+        if event and event[1]:
+            self.running_count += event[1]
         self.data.rotate(-rotation)