diff --git a/accel/opencl/ops_opencl.py b/accel/opencl/ops_opencl.py
index e00cc1d3f6..7e5be3e43b 100644
--- a/accel/opencl/ops_opencl.py
+++ b/accel/opencl/ops_opencl.py
@@ -133,7 +133,7 @@ class OpenCLBuffer(GPUBuffer):
         ewtypes.append(f"__global const float4 *{name}_g")
         getters.append(f"inline float4 get4_{name}(__global const float4 *x, const sampler_t smp, int2 loc, int gid) {{"+
           f"return x[gid/4]; }}")
-      elif False:
+      elif int(os.getenv("UNSAFE_FLOAT4", 0)):
         # use float4 indexed (HACK!)
         # TODO: work out when this is okay
         ewtypes.append(f"__global const float4 *{name}_g")