diff --git a/lib/gpu/lal_amoeba.cu b/lib/gpu/lal_amoeba.cu
index 82a42cff6c..799cfe6d63 100644
--- a/lib/gpu/lal_amoeba.cu
+++ b/lib/gpu/lal_amoeba.cu
@@ -992,7 +992,8 @@ __kernel void k_amoeba_umutual2b(const __global numtyp4 *restrict x_,
       numtyp damp = pdi * coeff[jtype].x; // pdamp[jtype]
       if (damp != (numtyp)0.0) {
         numtyp pgamma = MIN(pti,coeff[jtype].y); // thole[jtype]
-        damp = pgamma * ucl_powr(r/damp,(numtyp)3.0);
+        numtyp rdamp = r/damp;
+        damp = pgamma * rdamp*rdamp*rdamp;
         if (damp < (numtyp)50.0) {
           numtyp expdamp = ucl_exp(-damp);
           scale3 = (numtyp)1.0 - expdamp;
diff --git a/lib/gpu/lal_hippo.cu b/lib/gpu/lal_hippo.cu
index 0a0f4f02be..92cb55f69b 100644
--- a/lib/gpu/lal_hippo.cu
+++ b/lib/gpu/lal_hippo.cu
@@ -845,7 +845,7 @@ __kernel void k_hippo_dispersion(const __global numtyp4 *restrict x_,
       numtyp scale = factor_disp * damp*damp;
       scale = scale - (numtyp)1.0;
       numtyp e = -ci * ck * (expa+scale) / r6;
-      numtyp rterm = -ucl_powr(ralpha2,(numtyp)3.0) * expterm / r;
+      numtyp rterm = -ralpha2*ralpha2*ralpha2 * expterm / r;
       numtyp de = (numtyp)-6.0*e/r2 - ci*ck*rterm/r7 - (numtyp)2.0*ci*ck*factor_disp*damp*ddamp/r7;
 
       energy+= e;