diff --git a/src/pysme/synthesize.py b/src/pysme/synthesize.py
index 2a40c9a0..5130de8c 100644
--- a/src/pysme/synthesize.py
+++ b/src/pysme/synthesize.py
@@ -163,6 +163,7 @@ def check_segments(sme, segments):
             segments = np.atleast_1d(segments)
             if np.any(segments < 0) or np.any(segments >= sme.nseg):
                 raise IndexError("Segment(s) out of range")
+            segments = np.unique(segments)
 
         if sme.mask is not None:
             segments = [