diff --git a/src/seam-carving.cpp b/src/seam-carving.cpp
index 34d06e7..484ab07 100644
--- a/src/seam-carving.cpp
+++ b/src/seam-carving.cpp
@@ -195,11 +195,11 @@ std::vector<int> carving_step(const std::vector<unsigned char> source_img,
                               std::vector<unsigned char> &output_img,
                               std::vector<float> &output_energy, int width,
                               int height, int nbChannels, int nbColorChannels,
-                              bool vertical) {
+                              bool vertical, int max_step=1) {
   /** Carves an image and its energy by one seam, and recomputes the energy.
       Returns the optimal seam used */
   std::vector<int> opt_seam =
-      optimal_seam(source_energy, width, height, vertical);
+    optimal_seam(source_energy, width, height, vertical,max_step=max_step);
   remove_seam(source_img, output_img, width, height, nbChannels, vertical,
               opt_seam);
 
@@ -308,7 +308,7 @@ void seam_carving(unsigned char *source, int width, int height, int nbChannels,
   for (auto seam_index = 0; seam_index < nbSeams; seam_index++) {
     std::vector<int> opt_seam = carving_step(
         source_img, source_energy, output_img, output_energy, curWidth,
-        curHeight, nbChannels, nbColorChannels, vertical);
+        curHeight, nbChannels, nbColorChannels, vertical, max_step=max_step);
     std::copy(output_img.begin(), output_img.end(), source_img.begin());
     std::copy(output_energy.begin(), output_energy.end(),
               source_energy.begin());