diff --git a/src/aspire/abinitio/commonline_base.py b/src/aspire/abinitio/commonline_base.py
index e3d8fa50db..3a7d57252d 100644
--- a/src/aspire/abinitio/commonline_base.py
+++ b/src/aspire/abinitio/commonline_base.py
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 import numpy as np
 import scipy.sparse as sparse
 
+from aspire.image import Image
 from aspire.operators import PolarFT
 from aspire.utils import common_line_from_rots, fuzzy_mask, tqdm
 from aspire.utils.random import choice
@@ -91,8 +92,14 @@ def _prepare_pf(self):
         imgs = self.src.images[:]
 
         if self.mask:
-            fuzz_mask = fuzzy_mask((self.n_res, self.n_res), self.dtype)
+            # For best results and to reproduce MATLAB:
+            #   Set risetime=2
+            #   Always compute mask (erf) in doubles.
+            fuzz_mask = fuzzy_mask((self.n_res, self.n_res), np.float64, risetime=2)
+            #   Apply mask in doubles (allow imgs to upcast as needed)
             imgs = imgs * fuzz_mask
+            #   Cast to desired type
+            imgs = Image(imgs.asnumpy().astype(self.dtype, copy=False))
 
         # Obtain coefficients of polar Fourier transform for input 2D images
         pft = PolarFT(