diff --git a/.github/workflows/linuxWF.yml b/.github/workflows/linuxWF.yml
index 67d8d1c4f3..02bfecf877 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/linuxWF.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/linuxWF.yml
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ jobs:
               mdtraj \
               MDAnalysis \
               "torch>=2.7" \
-              "metatomic-torch>=0.1,<0.2" \
+              "metatomic-torch>=0.1.3,<0.2" \
               "featomic-torch==0.7.0"
 
         # torch 2.7 above is the first one to use cxx11 ABI for the PyPI wheels
diff --git a/regtest/metatomic/Makefile b/regtest/metatomic/Makefile
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..430b3123ed
--- /dev/null
+++ b/regtest/metatomic/Makefile
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+include ../scripts/module.make
diff --git a/src/metatomic/metatomic.cpp b/src/metatomic/metatomic.cpp
index 4e4ab19270..3b27273ca1 100644
--- a/src/metatomic/metatomic.cpp
+++ b/src/metatomic/metatomic.cpp
@@ -762,13 +762,14 @@ metatensor_torch::TensorBlock MetatomicPlumedAction::computeNeighbors(
         torch::TensorOptions().dtype(torch::kFloat64).device(torch::kCPU)
     );
 
-    auto pair_samples_values = torch::zeros({n_pairs, 5}, labels_options.device(torch::kCPU));
+    auto pair_samples_values = torch::empty({n_pairs, 5}, labels_options.device(torch::kCPU));
+    auto pair_samples_values_ptr = pair_samples_values.accessor<int32_t, 2>();
     for (unsigned i=0; i<n_pairs; i++) {
-        pair_samples_values[i][0] = static_cast<int32_t>(vesin_neighbor_list->pairs[i][0]);
-        pair_samples_values[i][1] = static_cast<int32_t>(vesin_neighbor_list->pairs[i][1]);
-        pair_samples_values[i][2] = vesin_neighbor_list->shifts[i][0];
-        pair_samples_values[i][3] = vesin_neighbor_list->shifts[i][1];
-        pair_samples_values[i][4] = vesin_neighbor_list->shifts[i][2];
+        pair_samples_values_ptr[i][0] = static_cast<int32_t>(vesin_neighbor_list->pairs[i][0]);
+        pair_samples_values_ptr[i][1] = static_cast<int32_t>(vesin_neighbor_list->pairs[i][1]);
+        pair_samples_values_ptr[i][2] = vesin_neighbor_list->shifts[i][0];
+        pair_samples_values_ptr[i][3] = vesin_neighbor_list->shifts[i][1];
+        pair_samples_values_ptr[i][4] = vesin_neighbor_list->shifts[i][2];
     }
 
     auto neighbor_samples = torch::make_intrusive<metatensor_torch::LabelsHolder>(