diff --git a/JugTrack/src/components/TrackProjector.cpp b/JugTrack/src/components/TrackProjector.cpp
index 0a55fbff6f43c32c0c9a0df01c51a29dc8fac513..9d19e1655420fc674a1aaf10cde3e995dea8df06 100644
--- a/JugTrack/src/components/TrackProjector.cpp
+++ b/JugTrack/src/components/TrackProjector.cpp
@@ -145,6 +145,9 @@ namespace Jug::Reco {
             global.z()
           };
 
+          // skip steps before crossing firstSmallerThanZ
+          if (m_firstSmallerThanZ != 0 && position.z > m_firstSmallerThanZ) return;
+
           // local position
           const eicd::Vector2f loc {
             parameter[Acts::eBoundLoc0],