diff --git a/Mesh/BackgroundMesh.cpp b/Mesh/BackgroundMesh.cpp
index abc45eded11a52f1ad3522f093467b668ca0dddd..e42003df8143a77b5462ae037ee6967b6e348604 100644
--- a/Mesh/BackgroundMesh.cpp
+++ b/Mesh/BackgroundMesh.cpp
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-// $Id: BackgroundMesh.cpp,v 1.50 2008-04-01 16:04:14 geuzaine Exp $
+// $Id: BackgroundMesh.cpp,v 1.51 2008-04-01 16:08:06 geuzaine Exp $
 //
 // Copyright (C) 1997-2008 C. Geuzaine, J.-F. Remacle
 //
@@ -187,6 +187,9 @@ double BGM_MeshSize(GEntity *ge, double U, double V, double X, double Y, double
 
 bool Extend1dMeshIn2dSurfaces()
 {
+  // don't extend 1d mesh in surfaces if there is a background field
+  if(GModel::current()->getFields()->background_field != -1) return false;
+
   return CTX.mesh.lc_extend_from_boundary ? true : false;
 }
 
diff --git a/benchmarks/2d/Square-Attr1.geo b/benchmarks/2d/Square-Attr1.geo
index 69e623cf4f18b381ae801f2ed9cc6ff9ccbf9a1a..0cccd05368a7787f52250ce9ba6868bf2ccf1ca1 100644
--- a/benchmarks/2d/Square-Attr1.geo
+++ b/benchmarks/2d/Square-Attr1.geo
@@ -26,5 +26,5 @@ Field[2].DistMax = 0.3;
 
 Background Field = 2;
 
-Mesh.CharacteristicLengthFromPoints = 0;
-Mesh.CharacteristicLengthExtendFromBoundary = 0;
+//Mesh.CharacteristicLengthFromPoints = 1;
+//Mesh.CharacteristicLengthExtendFromBoundary = 1;