diff --git a/src/include/ngspice/smpdefs.h b/src/include/ngspice/smpdefs.h
index 51aa1f31e..14dd4ef3e 100644
--- a/src/include/ngspice/smpdefs.h
+++ b/src/include/ngspice/smpdefs.h
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ void SMPcaSolve(SMPmatrix *Matrix, double RHS[], double iRHS[],
 void SMPcSolve( SMPmatrix *, double [], double [], double [], double []);
 void SMPsolve( SMPmatrix *, double [], double []);
 int SMPmatSize( SMPmatrix *);
-int SMPnewMatrix( SMPmatrix ** );
+int SMPnewMatrix( SMPmatrix **, int );
 void SMPdestroy( SMPmatrix *);
 int SMPpreOrder( SMPmatrix *);
 void SMPprint( SMPmatrix * , char *);
diff --git a/src/maths/ni/niinit.c b/src/maths/ni/niinit.c
index 481d40916..1df37f66c 100644
--- a/src/maths/ni/niinit.c
+++ b/src/maths/ni/niinit.c
@@ -25,5 +25,5 @@ NIinit(CKTcircuit *ckt)
     int Error;
 #endif /* SPARSE */
     ckt->CKTniState = NIUNINITIALIZED;
-    return(SMPnewMatrix( &(ckt->CKTmatrix) ) );
+    return SMPnewMatrix(&(ckt->CKTmatrix), 0);
 }
diff --git a/src/maths/sparse/spsmp.c b/src/maths/sparse/spsmp.c
index daa736d9c..0a97f27ae 100644
--- a/src/maths/sparse/spsmp.c
+++ b/src/maths/sparse/spsmp.c
@@ -249,10 +249,10 @@ SMPmatSize(SMPmatrix *Matrix)
  * SMPnewMatrix()
  */
 int
-SMPnewMatrix(SMPmatrix **pMatrix)
+SMPnewMatrix(SMPmatrix **pMatrix, int size)
 {
     int Error;
-    *pMatrix = spCreate( 0, 1, &Error );
+    *pMatrix = spCreate( size, 1, &Error );
     return Error;
 }