diff --git a/libsrc/include/nginterface_v2.hpp b/libsrc/include/nginterface_v2.hpp
index f2f9734b..3cf00fc8 100644
--- a/libsrc/include/nginterface_v2.hpp
+++ b/libsrc/include/nginterface_v2.hpp
@@ -347,7 +347,7 @@ namespace netgen
 
     void EnableTable (string name, bool set);
 
-    void Refine (NG_REFINEMENT_TYPE reftype,
+    void Refine (NG_REFINEMENT_TYPE reftype, bool onlyonce,
                  void (*taskmanager)(function<void(int,int)>) = &DummyTaskManager2,
                  void (*tracer)(string, bool) = &DummyTracer2);
 
diff --git a/libsrc/interface/nginterface_v2.cpp b/libsrc/interface/nginterface_v2.cpp
index 0f3f48a9..e417be3c 100644
--- a/libsrc/interface/nginterface_v2.cpp
+++ b/libsrc/interface/nginterface_v2.cpp
@@ -1156,7 +1156,7 @@ namespace netgen
     mesh->VolumeElement(elnr+1).SetRefinementFlag(flag);    
   }
   
-  void Ngx_Mesh :: Refine (NG_REFINEMENT_TYPE reftype,
+  void Ngx_Mesh :: Refine (NG_REFINEMENT_TYPE reftype, bool onlyonce,
                            void (*task_manager)(function<void(int,int)>),
                            NgTracer tracer)
   {
@@ -1166,6 +1166,7 @@ namespace netgen
     biopt.usemarkedelements = 1;
     biopt.refine_p = 0;
     biopt.refine_hp = 0;
+    biopt.onlyonce = onlyonce;
     if (reftype == NG_REFINE_P)
       biopt.refine_p = 1;
     if (reftype == NG_REFINE_HP)
diff --git a/libsrc/meshing/bisect.cpp b/libsrc/meshing/bisect.cpp
index 5127c439..0205cc81 100644
--- a/libsrc/meshing/bisect.cpp
+++ b/libsrc/meshing/bisect.cpp
@@ -3019,7 +3019,7 @@ namespace netgen
 		      {
 			cnttet++;
 			mtets.Elem(cnttet).marked =
-			  3 * mesh.VolumeElement(i).TestRefinementFlag();
+			  (opt.onlyonce ? 3 : 1) * mesh.VolumeElement(i).TestRefinementFlag();
 			if (mtets.Elem(cnttet).marked)
 			  cntm++;
 		      }
@@ -3038,7 +3038,7 @@ namespace netgen
 	      for (int i = 1; i <= mtets.Size(); i++)
 		{
 		  mtets.Elem(i).marked =
-		    3 * mesh.VolumeElement(i).TestRefinementFlag();
+		    (opt.onlyonce ? 1 : 3) * mesh.VolumeElement(i).TestRefinementFlag();
 		  if (mtets.Elem(i).marked)
 		    cntm++;
 		}
@@ -3068,7 +3068,7 @@ namespace netgen
 		  {
 		    cnttrig++;
 		    mtris.Elem(cnttrig).marked =
-		      mesh.SurfaceElement(i).TestRefinementFlag() ? 2 : 0;
+		      mesh.SurfaceElement(i).TestRefinementFlag() ? (opt.onlyonce ? 1 : 2) : 0;
 		    // mtris.Elem(cnttrig).marked = 0;
 		    if (mtris.Elem(cnttrig).marked)
 		      cntm++;
diff --git a/libsrc/meshing/bisect.hpp b/libsrc/meshing/bisect.hpp
index 16849227..9cab3ef3 100644
--- a/libsrc/meshing/bisect.hpp
+++ b/libsrc/meshing/bisect.hpp
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ public:
   int usemarkedelements;
   bool refine_hp;
   bool refine_p;
+  bool onlyonce = false;
   NgTaskManager task_manager = &DummyTaskManager;
   NgTracer tracer = &DummyTracer;
   DLL_HEADER BisectionOptions ();