Abstract: Disclosed are a system, a method, and an article of manufacture to provide for the detection and compensation of tape breakage in a tape drive. The invention operates by simultaneously monitoring the tape reel rotation direction and the ratio of rotation between the tape reels. If the rotation direction is not the same for both reels, then tape breakage is indicated and reel rotation ceases. Tape breakage is also detected if the tape reel angular rotation ratio between the supply and take up reels is not within a specified tape reel ratio range. The tape reel angular rotation ratio is detected by simultaneously measuring the angular rotation of each tape reel in a specified time period and then calculating the ratio. The present invention detects the tape reel angular rotation ratio and if tape reel angular rotation ratio is outside of the specified tape reel ratio range, tape breakage is indicated and reel rotation ceases.