diff --git a/src/ml_optimiser_mpi.cpp b/src/ml_optimiser_mpi.cpp
index 8e90ca14d..06ef47438 100644
--- a/src/ml_optimiser_mpi.cpp
+++ b/src/ml_optimiser_mpi.cpp
@@ -2665,10 +2665,12 @@ void MlOptimiserMpi::maximization()
 										mymodel.helical_twist[ith_recons],
 										width_mask_edge);
 							}
-							helical_rise_half2 = mymodel.helical_rise[ith_recons];
-							helical_twist_half2 = mymodel.helical_twist[ith_recons];
 						} // end if !do_join_random_halves
 
+                        // Rank 2 still updates the estimated twist and rise
+                        helical_rise_half2 = mymodel.helical_rise[ith_recons];
+                        helical_twist_half2 = mymodel.helical_twist[ith_recons];
+
 						// But rank 2 always does the unfiltered reconstruction
 						if (do_auto_refine && has_converged)
 							readTemporaryDataAndWeightArraysAndReconstruct(ith_recons, 2);