diff --git a/src/search.cpp b/src/search.cpp
index 4864057c1b1..240ca44d13e 100644
--- a/src/search.cpp
+++ b/src/search.cpp
@@ -794,6 +794,8 @@ Value Search::Worker::search(
         && eval < VALUE_TB_WIN_IN_MAX_PLY)
         return beta + (eval - beta) / 3;
 
+    improving |= ss->staticEval >= beta + 100;
+
     // Step 9. Null move search with verification search (~35 Elo)
     if (cutNode && (ss - 1)->currentMove != Move::null() && eval >= beta
         && ss->staticEval >= beta - 23 * depth + 400 && !excludedMove && pos.non_pawn_material(us)