diff --git a/opm/core/wells/WellsManager_impl.hpp b/opm/core/wells/WellsManager_impl.hpp
index abdf5f43..bd5f0d4b 100644
--- a/opm/core/wells/WellsManager_impl.hpp
+++ b/opm/core/wells/WellsManager_impl.hpp
@@ -166,24 +166,28 @@ void WellsManager::createWellsFromSpecs(std::vector<WellConstPtr>& wells, size_t
                     int cell = cgit->second;
                     PerfData pd;
                     pd.cell = cell;
-                    if (completion->getConnectionTransmissibilityFactor() > 0.0) {
-                        pd.well_index = completion->getConnectionTransmissibilityFactor();
-                    } else {
-                        double radius = 0.5*completion->getDiameter();
-                        if (radius <= 0.0) {
-                            radius = 0.5*unit::feet;
-                            OPM_MESSAGE("**** Warning: Well bore internal radius set to " << radius);
+                    {
+                        const Value<double>& transmissibilityFactor = completion->getConnectionTransmissibilityFactorAsValueObject();
+
+                        if (transmissibilityFactor.hasValue()) {
+                            pd.well_index = transmissibilityFactor.getValue();
+                        } else {
+                            double radius = 0.5*completion->getDiameter();
+                            if (radius <= 0.0) {
+                                radius = 0.5*unit::feet;
+                                OPM_MESSAGE("**** Warning: Well bore internal radius set to " << radius);
+                            }
+
+                            const std::array<double, 3> cubical =
+                                WellsManagerDetail::getCubeDim<3>(c2f, begin_face_centroids, cell);
+
+                            const double* cell_perm = &permeability[dimensions*dimensions*cell];
+                            pd.well_index =
+                                WellsManagerDetail::computeWellIndex(radius, cubical, cell_perm,
+                                                                     completion->getSkinFactor(),
+                                                                     completion->getDirection(),
+                                                                     ntg[cell]);
                         }
-
-                        const std::array<double, 3> cubical =
-                            WellsManagerDetail::getCubeDim<3>(c2f, begin_face_centroids, cell);
-
-                        const double* cell_perm = &permeability[dimensions*dimensions*cell];
-                        pd.well_index =
-                            WellsManagerDetail::computeWellIndex(radius, cubical, cell_perm,
-                                                                 completion->getSkinFactor(),
-                                                                 completion->getDirection(),
-                                                                 ntg[cell]);
                     }
                     wellperf_data[well_index].push_back(pd);
                 } else {