diff --git a/doc/ReleaseNotes.md b/doc/ReleaseNotes.md
--- a/doc/ReleaseNotes.md
+++ b/doc/ReleaseNotes.md
@@ -1,5 +1,9 @@
 # Laura++ release notes
 
+27th November 2020 Dan Johnson
+* Allow slope of NR exponential model to vary negative - improves fit stability in low-statistics fits
+  - see https://phab.hepforge.org/T128
+
 17th September 2020 Mark Whitehead
 * Begin updates to use inclusive language. Simultaneous fits now handled by Coordinator and Tasks
   - see https://phab.hepforge.org/T112
diff --git a/src/LauBelleNR.cc b/src/LauBelleNR.cc
--- a/src/LauBelleNR.cc
+++ b/src/LauBelleNR.cc
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@
 	parName += "_alpha";
 	alpha_ = resInfo->getExtraParameter( parName );
 	if ( alpha_ == 0 ) {
-		alpha_ = new LauParameter( parName, 0.0, 0.0, 10.0, kTRUE );
+		alpha_ = new LauParameter( parName, 0.0, -2.0, 10.0, kTRUE );
 		alpha_->secondStage(kTRUE);
 		resInfo->addExtraParameter( alpha_ );
 	}