diff --git a/src/ipa/simple/algorithms/blc.cpp b/src/ipa/simple/algorithms/blc.cpp
index a7af2e12c..b4e32fe1c 100644
--- a/src/ipa/simple/algorithms/blc.cpp
+++ b/src/ipa/simple/algorithms/blc.cpp
@@ -21,6 +21,19 @@ BlackLevel::BlackLevel()
 {
 }
 
+int BlackLevel::init(IPAContext &context, const YamlObject &tuningData)
+{
+	auto blackLevel = tuningData["blackLevel"].get<int16_t>();
+	if (blackLevel.has_value()) {
+		/*
+		 * Convert 16 bit values from the tuning file to 8 bit black
+		 * level for the SoftISP.
+		 */
+		context.configuration.black.level = blackLevel.value() >> 8;
+	}
+	return 0;
+}
+
 int BlackLevel::configure(IPAContext &context,
 			  [[maybe_unused]] const IPAConfigInfo &configInfo)
 {
diff --git a/src/ipa/simple/algorithms/blc.h b/src/ipa/simple/algorithms/blc.h
index 828ad8b18..2cf2a8774 100644
--- a/src/ipa/simple/algorithms/blc.h
+++ b/src/ipa/simple/algorithms/blc.h
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ public:
 	BlackLevel();
 	~BlackLevel() = default;
 
+	int init(IPAContext &context, const YamlObject &tuningData) override;
 	int configure(IPAContext &context, const IPAConfigInfo &configInfo) override;
 	void process(IPAContext &context, const uint32_t frame,
 		     IPAFrameContext &frameContext,
diff --git a/src/ipa/simple/soft_simple.cpp b/src/ipa/simple/soft_simple.cpp
index e96e65bd1..03525b2f2 100644
--- a/src/ipa/simple/soft_simple.cpp
+++ b/src/ipa/simple/soft_simple.cpp
@@ -201,7 +201,8 @@ int IPASoftSimple::configure(const IPAConfigInfo &configInfo)
 			(context_.configuration.agc.againMax -
 			 context_.configuration.agc.againMin) /
 			100.0;
-		if (camHelper_->blackLevel().has_value()) {
+		if (!context_.configuration.black.level.has_value() &&
+		    camHelper_->blackLevel().has_value()) {
 			/*
 			 * The black level from camHelper_ is a 16 bit value, software ISP
 			 * works with 8 bit pixel values, both regardless of the actual