diff --git a/rtengine/iplocallab.cc b/rtengine/iplocallab.cc
index c478b8fcd..42ed6c99b 100644
--- a/rtengine/iplocallab.cc
+++ b/rtengine/iplocallab.cc
@@ -12263,7 +12263,7 @@ void ImProcFunctions::Lab_Local(int call, int sp, float** shbuffer, LabImage * o
                         temp = blend2;
                     }
 
-                    int smerge = 0;
+                    int smerge = 100;
 
                     if (lp.mergemet >= 2) {//change transit_shapedetect if merge...because we use others references and other files
                         smerge = 100;