diff --git a/phigrape.cpp b/phigrape.cpp
index c484045..aae2390 100644
--- a/phigrape.cpp
+++ b/phigrape.cpp
@@ -415,14 +415,16 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
     else if (config.live_smbh_count == 2) {
         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.adjust_softening(pot[0], pot[1], a[0], a[1], adot[0], adot[1]);
+        if (config.live_smbh_custom_eps >= 0) {
+            black_hole_physics.set_softening(config.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]);
     }
     if (config.binary_smbh_pn) {
         black_hole_physics.set_post_newtonian(config.pn_c, config.pn_usage.data());
         if (config.pn_usage[6]) black_hole_physics.set_spins(config.smbh1_spin.data(), config.smbh2_spin.data());
     }
-    black_hole_physics.set_softening(config.eps, config.live_smbh_custom_eps);
 
     std::vector<double> pot_ext(N, 0.);
     calc_ext_grav(N, x, v, pot_ext, a, adot);