diff --git a/src/brevitas/graph/gptq.py b/src/brevitas/graph/gptq.py
index 6b1945dcc..80026d814 100644
--- a/src/brevitas/graph/gptq.py
+++ b/src/brevitas/graph/gptq.py
@@ -121,7 +121,7 @@ def update_batch(self, module, input, current_layer):
             current_layer.forward_count = 0
             raise StopFwdException
 
-    def single_layer_update(self, percdamp=.01):
+    def single_layer_update(self, percdamp=.01, c=1e3):
         assert not self.layer.weight_quant.requires_quant_input, "Error: GPTQ does not support weight quantizers that require quantized inputs."
         if hasattr(self.layer, 'allocate_params'):
             self.layer.allocate_params(self.layer)
@@ -174,7 +174,8 @@ def single_layer_update(self, percdamp=.01):
                 self.H[i, diag, diag] += damp
                 self.H[i, :, :] = torch.linalg.cholesky(self.H[i, :, :])
                 self.H[i, :, :] = torch.cholesky_inverse(self.H[i, :, :])
-                self.H[i, :, :] = torch.linalg.cholesky(self.H[i, :, :], upper=True)
+                # stabilizing the Cholesky decomposition with a fairly large constant, c
+                self.H[i, :, :] = torch.linalg.cholesky(self.H[i, :, :] * (c ** 2), upper=True) / c
             h_inv = self.H
         except LinAlgError as e:
             warnings.warn(