diff --git a/phigrape.cpp b/phigrape.cpp
index 2976c59..d3a734e 100644
--- a/phigrape.cpp
+++ b/phigrape.cpp
@@ -441,7 +441,12 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
         black_hole_physics = Black_hole_physics(m[0], m[1], myRank, rootRank);
         black_hole_physics.set_xv(x[0], x[1], v[0], v[1]);
         if (config.live_smbh_custom_eps >= 0) {
-            black_hole_physics.set_softening(config.eps, config.live_smbh_custom_eps);
+#ifdef ETICS
+            double eps = (config.grapite_smbh_star_eps >= 0)?config.grapite_smbh_star_eps:config.eps;
+#else
+            double eps = config.eps;
+#endif
+            black_hole_physics.set_softening(eps, config.live_smbh_custom_eps);
             black_hole_physics.adjust_softening(pot[0], pot[1], a[0], a[1], adot[0], adot[1]);
         }
         if (config.binary_smbh_pn) black_hole_physics.adjust_post_newtonian(dt_min, a[0], a[1], adot[0], adot[1]);