diff --git a/src/matgl/layers/_basis.py b/src/matgl/layers/_basis.py
index 47d6a270..3caad9ad 100644
--- a/src/matgl/layers/_basis.py
+++ b/src/matgl/layers/_basis.py
@@ -393,7 +393,7 @@ def __init__(self, cutoff: float = 5.0, num_rbf: int = 50, learnable: bool = Tru
 
     def _initial_params(self):
         """Initialize the means and betas parameters."""
-        start_value = torch.exp(torch.scalar_tensor(-self.cutoff))
+        start_value = torch.exp(-self.cutoff)
         means = torch.linspace(start_value, 1, self.num_rbf)
         betas = torch.tensor([(2 / self.num_rbf * (1 - start_value)) ** -2] * self.num_rbf)
         return means, betas