diff --git a/desc/optimize/least_squares.py b/desc/optimize/least_squares.py
index 56e7d6e0b..9035b8157 100644
--- a/desc/optimize/least_squares.py
+++ b/desc/optimize/least_squares.py
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 from scipy.optimize import OptimizeResult
 
 from desc.backend import jnp, qr
-from desc.utils import errorif, setdefault
+from desc.utils import errorif, safediv, setdefault
 
 from .bound_utils import (
     cl_scaling_vector,
@@ -208,14 +208,12 @@ def lsqtr(  # noqa: C901
     # conngould : norm of the cauchy point, as recommended in ch17 of Conn & Gould
     # scipy : norm of the scaled x, as used in scipy
     # mix : geometric mean of conngould and scipy
+    scipy = jnp.linalg.norm(x * scale_inv / v**0.5)
+    conngould = safediv(jnp.sum(g_h**2), jnp.sum((J_h @ g_h) ** 2))
     init_tr = {
-        "scipy": jnp.linalg.norm(x * scale_inv / v**0.5),
-        "conngould": jnp.sum(g_h**2) / jnp.sum((J_h @ g_h) ** 2),
-        "mix": jnp.sqrt(
-            jnp.sum(g_h**2)
-            / jnp.sum((J_h @ g_h) ** 2)
-            * jnp.linalg.norm(x * scale_inv / v**0.5)
-        ),
+        "scipy": scipy,
+        "conngould": conngould,
+        "mix": jnp.sqrt(conngould * scipy),
     }
     trust_radius = options.pop("initial_trust_radius", "scipy")
     tr_ratio = options.pop("initial_trust_ratio", 1.0)