diff --git a/src/ipa/ipu3/algorithms/blc.cpp b/src/ipa/ipu3/algorithms/blc.cpp
index 35748fb..f91ea37 100644
--- a/src/ipa/ipu3/algorithms/blc.cpp
+++ b/src/ipa/ipu3/algorithms/blc.cpp
@@ -7,6 +7,10 @@
 
 #include "blc.h"
 
+#include <libcamera/base/log.h>
+
+#include "libipa/camera_sensor_helper.h"
+
 /**
  * \file blc.h
  * \brief IPU3 Black Level Correction control
@@ -30,10 +34,52 @@ namespace ipa::ipu3::algorithms {
  * isn't currently supported.
  */
 
+LOG_DEFINE_CATEGORY(IPU3Blc)
+
+/*
+ * Black level used when the camera sensor helper does not provide one,
+ * expressed in ImgU units (see init()). This is the historical value that
+ * was hard-coded before the level came from the helper.
+ */
+static constexpr uint16_t kDefaultBlackLevel = 64;
+
 BlackLevelCorrection::BlackLevelCorrection()
+	: blackLevel_(kDefaultBlackLevel)
 {
 }
 
+/**
+ * \copydoc libcamera::ipa::Algorithm::init
+ */
+int BlackLevelCorrection::init(IPAContext &context,
+			       [[maybe_unused]] const ValueNode &tuningData)
+{
+	std::optional<int16_t> blackLevel = context.camHelper->blackLevel();
+	if (!blackLevel) {
+		LOG(IPU3Blc, Warning)
+			<< "No black level provided by camera sensor helper"
+			<< ", please fix";
+		blackLevel_ = kDefaultBlackLevel;
+	} else {
+		/*
+		 * The helper reports the black level as a 16-bit value, while
+		 * the ImgU OB grid expects it in units of half a 10-bit LSB. On
+		 * an OV5670 (black level 64 at 10 bits) a correction of 64
+		 * leaves a residual pedestal of about 9/255 in the AWB
+		 * statistics and in the image, 128 removes it, and 192 clips
+		 * dark areas to zero. Experiments with the configurable data
+		 * pedestal of an OV5693 confirm that the ISP needs twice the
+		 * value programmed in the sensor's black level target. The
+		 * 16-bit value is therefore shifted right by 5.
+		 */
+		blackLevel_ = *blackLevel >> 5;
+	}
+
+	LOG(IPU3Blc, Debug) << "Black level " << blackLevel_;
+
+	return 0;
+}
+
 /**
  * \brief Fill in the parameter structure, and enable black level correction
  * \param[in] context The shared IPA context
@@ -49,15 +95,11 @@ void BlackLevelCorrection::prepare([[maybe_unused]] IPAContext &context,
 				   [[maybe_unused]] IPAFrameContext &frameContext,
 				   ipu3_uapi_params *params)
 {
-	/*
-	 * The Optical Black Level correction values
-	 * \todo The correction values should come from sensor specific
-	 * tuning processes. This is a first rough approximation.
-	 */
-	params->obgrid_param.gr = 64;
-	params->obgrid_param.r = 64;
-	params->obgrid_param.b = 64;
-	params->obgrid_param.gb = 64;
+	/* The Optical Black Level correction values */
+	params->obgrid_param.gr = blackLevel_;
+	params->obgrid_param.r = blackLevel_;
+	params->obgrid_param.b = blackLevel_;
+	params->obgrid_param.gb = blackLevel_;
 
 	/* Enable the custom black level correction processing */
 	params->use.obgrid = 1;
diff --git a/src/ipa/ipu3/algorithms/blc.h b/src/ipa/ipu3/algorithms/blc.h
index 6274804..bef756f 100644
--- a/src/ipa/ipu3/algorithms/blc.h
+++ b/src/ipa/ipu3/algorithms/blc.h
@@ -18,9 +18,14 @@ class BlackLevelCorrection : public Algorithm
 public:
 	BlackLevelCorrection();
 
+	int init(IPAContext &context, const ValueNode &tuningData) override;
+
 	void prepare(IPAContext &context, const uint32_t frame,
 		     IPAFrameContext &frameContext,
 		     ipu3_uapi_params *params) override;
+
+private:
+	uint16_t blackLevel_;
 };
 
 } /* namespace ipa::ipu3::algorithms */