diff --git a/src/RIGID/fix_rigid.cpp b/src/RIGID/fix_rigid.cpp
index e9c06dee5c..708b81d7f0 100644
--- a/src/RIGID/fix_rigid.cpp
+++ b/src/RIGID/fix_rigid.cpp
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ enum{ISO,ANISO,TRICLINIC};
 #define EPSILON 1.0e-7
 
 #define SINERTIA 0.4            // moment of inertia prefactor for sphere
-#define EINERTIA 0.4            // moment of inertia prefactor for ellipsoid
+#define EINERTIA 0.2            // moment of inertia prefactor for ellipsoid
 #define LINERTIA (1.0/12.0)     // moment of inertia prefactor for line segment
 
 /* ---------------------------------------------------------------------- */
diff --git a/src/RIGID/fix_rigid_small.cpp b/src/RIGID/fix_rigid_small.cpp
index 2d8e736a1e..07b6cc09b3 100644
--- a/src/RIGID/fix_rigid_small.cpp
+++ b/src/RIGID/fix_rigid_small.cpp
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ FixRigidSmall *FixRigidSmall::frsptr;
 #define BIG 1.0e20
 
 #define SINERTIA 0.4            // moment of inertia prefactor for sphere
-#define EINERTIA 0.4            // moment of inertia prefactor for ellipsoid
+#define EINERTIA 0.2            // moment of inertia prefactor for ellipsoid
 #define LINERTIA (1.0/12.0)     // moment of inertia prefactor for line segment
 
 #define DELTA_BODY 10000
diff --git a/src/USER-OMP/fix_rigid_omp.cpp b/src/USER-OMP/fix_rigid_omp.cpp
index d5bacc0320..f3ef1d2985 100644
--- a/src/USER-OMP/fix_rigid_omp.cpp
+++ b/src/USER-OMP/fix_rigid_omp.cpp
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ using namespace MathConst;
 
 enum{SINGLE,MOLECULE,GROUP};	// same as in FixRigid
 
-#define EINERTIA 0.4            // moment of inertia prefactor for ellipsoid
+#define EINERTIA 0.2            // moment of inertia prefactor for ellipsoid
 
 typedef struct { double x,y,z; } dbl3_t;
 
diff --git a/src/USER-OMP/fix_rigid_small_omp.cpp b/src/USER-OMP/fix_rigid_small_omp.cpp
index a260899aef..e3939a829d 100644
--- a/src/USER-OMP/fix_rigid_small_omp.cpp
+++ b/src/USER-OMP/fix_rigid_small_omp.cpp
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ using namespace LAMMPS_NS;
 using namespace FixConst;
 using namespace MathConst;
 
-#define EINERTIA 0.4            // moment of inertia prefactor for ellipsoid
+#define EINERTIA 0.2            // moment of inertia prefactor for ellipsoid
 
 enum{FULL_BODY,INITIAL,FINAL,FORCE_TORQUE,VCM_ANGMOM,XCM_MASS,ITENSOR,DOF};