A method for avoiding tape stiction is provided with a tape drive with a pair of motors for driving a pair of tape reels for conveying data tape across one or more read/write heads. Tachometers measure rotation of the pair of tape reels. Motion of the tape is started and rotation of the tape reels is measured by the tachometers. The measurement of the rotation of the tape reels is compared to determine if there is enough slack associated with tape stiction. The location of tape stiction is stored and weighted. Another method stops motion of the tape at a location wherein excessive tape stiction has not been detected. A tape drive is provided for performing methods for avoiding tape stiction.