diff --git a/feature_importance/subgroup/subgroup_detection.py b/feature_importance/subgroup/subgroup_detection.py
index e9fca6f..e435dcf 100644
--- a/feature_importance/subgroup/subgroup_detection.py
+++ b/feature_importance/subgroup/subgroup_detection.py
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ def detect_subgroups(mdi, rankings, num_clusters, p = 0.9, k = None,
     condensed_distance_matrix = squareform(distance_matrix)
 
     # perform hierarchical clustering
-    linkage_matrix = linkage(condensed_distance_matrix, method="ward")
+    linkage_matrix = linkage(condensed_distance_matrix, method=linkage_method)
     clustergrid = sns.clustermap(mdi, row_linkage=linkage_matrix,
                                  col_cluster=False, cmap='viridis',
                                  cbar_pos = (1, 0.2, 0.05, 0.5))