diff --git a/quickstats/components/extended_minimizer.py b/quickstats/components/extended_minimizer.py
index 237cfd61c9fb83afd602dbe6d1748830821d99e9..3d0dc8366159c6b2c94d32724b8393258967f648 100644
--- a/quickstats/components/extended_minimizer.py
+++ b/quickstats/components/extended_minimizer.py
@@ -625,7 +625,7 @@ class ExtendedMinimizer(AbstractObject):
                 # prefit minimization
                 self.minimizer.setStrategy(0)
                 self.minimizer.setEps(self.config['eps']*10)
-                status = self.single_minimize(self.config['minimizer_type'], self.config['minimizer_algo'])
+                self.robust_minimize(cascade=cascade)
                 self.minimizer.setStrategy(self.config['strategy'])
                 self.minimizer.setEps(self.config['eps'])