diff --git a/src/haddock/modules/refinement/flexref/cns/flexref.cns b/src/haddock/modules/refinement/flexref/cns/flexref.cns
index 1203141f1..f5959d7c9 100644
--- a/src/haddock/modules/refinement/flexref/cns/flexref.cns
+++ b/src/haddock/modules/refinement/flexref/cns/flexref.cns
@@ -366,6 +366,10 @@ if ($failure eq false) then
 
     {* Stage 1 ======================================= rigid body high temperature search*}
 
+    if ($nfle > 0) then
+        ! reduce timestep in case of fully flexible segments
+        evaluate ($SaProtocol.tadfactor = min(4,$SaProtocol.tadfactor))
+    end if
     if ($SaProtocol.initiosteps > 0) then
         inline @MODULE:flex_segment.cns
         @MODULE:torsiontop.cns
@@ -381,7 +385,10 @@ if ($failure eq false) then
             @MODULE:torsiontop.cns
             eval ($torsiondone = true)
         end if
-        evaluate ($SaProtocol.tadfactor = 4)
+        if ($nfle > 0) then
+            ! reduce timestep in case of fully flexible segments
+            evaluate ($SaProtocol.tadfactor = min(4,$SaProtocol.tadfactor))
+        end if
         @MODULE:sa_ltad_cool1.cns
     end if