diff --git a/rtl/ldpc_decoder_core.sv b/rtl/ldpc_decoder_core.sv
index 7cfcdcf..2b83a93 100644
--- a/rtl/ldpc_decoder_core.sv
+++ b/rtl/ldpc_decoder_core.sv
@@ -241,9 +241,9 @@ module ldpc_decoder_core #(
                             vn_to_cn[col_idx][z] <= sat_sub(belief_val, old_msg);
                         end
                     end else begin
-                        // Unconnected: set VN->CN messages to 0
+                        // Unconnected: set to +MAX so magnitude doesn't affect min-sum
                         for (int z = 0; z < Z; z++)
-                            vn_to_cn[col_idx][z] <= '0;
+                            vn_to_cn[col_idx][z] <= {1'b0, {(Q-1){1'b1}}};  // +31
                     end
 
                     if (col_idx == N_BASE - 1)