diff --git a/src/amuse/community/petar/Makefile b/src/amuse/community/petar/Makefile
index 44445b8d3c..ce9e666bda 100644
--- a/src/amuse/community/petar/Makefile
+++ b/src/amuse/community/petar/Makefile
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ CXXFLAGS += -D MPICH_IGNORE_CXX_SEEKC
 CXXFLAGS += -D SOFT_PERT -D AR_TTL -D AR_SLOWDOWN_TREE -D AR_SLOWDOWN_TIMESCALE -D CLUSTER_VELOCITY
 CXXFLAGS += -D USE_QUAD
 CXXFLAGS += -D STELLAR_EVOLUTION
+CXXFLAGS += -D ADJUST_GROUP_PRINT
 
 CXXFLAGS += -D PROFILE
 CXXFLAGS += -D HARD_CHECK_ENERGY
diff --git a/src/amuse/community/petar/interface.cc b/src/amuse/community/petar/interface.cc
index 2c1ed6796a..cada513a17 100644
--- a/src/amuse/community/petar/interface.cc
+++ b/src/amuse/community/petar/interface.cc
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ extern "C" {
         // set print flag to rank 0
         ptr->input_parameters.print_flag = (ptr->my_rank==0) ? true: false;
         // set writing flag to false
-        ptr->input_parameters.write_style.value = 0;
+        ptr->input_parameters.write_style.value = 3;
 
         // default input
         int flag= ptr->readParameters(argc,argv);
@@ -106,6 +106,7 @@ extern "C" {
         ptr->input_parameters.update_changeover_flag = true;
         ptr->input_parameters.update_rsearch_flag = true;
         ptr->initialParameters();
+        ptr->hard_manager.h4_manager.adjust_group_write_flag = true;
         ptr->initial_step_flag = false;
 
         // set stopping condtions support
@@ -389,6 +390,15 @@ extern "C" {
         return 0;
     }
 
+    int get_binary_companion(int index_of_the_particle, int * binary_companion){
+        reconstruct_particle_list();
+        int index = 1 + ptr->getParticleAdrFromID(index_of_the_particle);
+        FPSoft* p = &(ptr->system_soft[index]);
+        //*binary_companion = ptr->getParticleIDFromAdr(p->getBinaryPairID());
+        *binary_companion = p->getBinaryPairID() - 1;
+        return 0;
+    }
+
     int get_position(int index_of_the_particle,
                      double * x, double * y, double * z) {
         reconstruct_particle_list();
@@ -737,6 +747,7 @@ extern "C" {
         if (!ptr->read_data_flag) return -1;
         ptr->input_parameters.n_glb.value = ptr->stat.n_real_glb;
         ptr->initialParameters();
+        ptr->hard_manager.h4_manager.adjust_group_write_flag = true;
         ptr->initialStep();
         ptr->reconstructIdAdrMap();
         particle_list_change_flag = false;
diff --git a/src/amuse/community/petar/interface.h b/src/amuse/community/petar/interface.h
index d7e8890e04..95714d220c 100644
--- a/src/amuse/community/petar/interface.h
+++ b/src/amuse/community/petar/interface.h
@@ -31,6 +31,8 @@ int get_radius(int index_of_the_particle, double * radius);
 
 int set_radius(int index_of_the_particle, double radius);
 
+int get_binary_companion(int index_of_the_particle, int * binary_companion);
+
 int get_position(int index_of_the_particle, double * x, double * y, double * z);
 
 int set_position(int index_of_the_particle, double x, double y, double z);
diff --git a/src/amuse/community/petar/interface.py b/src/amuse/community/petar/interface.py
index 977cb7e3cd..6a71b7fe20 100644
--- a/src/amuse/community/petar/interface.py
+++ b/src/amuse/community/petar/interface.py
@@ -1,4 +1,9 @@
-from amuse.rfi.core import legacy_function, LegacyFunctionSpecification
+"""
+Interface for PeTar
+"""
+from amuse.rfi.core import (
+    legacy_function, LegacyFunctionSpecification, remote_function
+)
 from amuse.community import (
     CodeInterface,
     LiteratureReferencesMixIn,
@@ -83,6 +88,13 @@ def set_theta():
         """
         return function
 
+    @remote_function(can_handle_array=True)
+    def get_binary_companion(index_of_the_particle='i'):
+        """
+        Returns the binary companion of a particle, or -1 if no such companion exists
+        """
+        returns (binary_companion='i')
+
     #@legacy_function
     #def get_gravitational_constant():
     #    """
@@ -573,6 +585,17 @@ def define_methods(self, handler):
             )
         )
 
+        handler.add_method(
+            "get_binary_companion",
+            (
+                handler.NO_UNIT,
+            ),
+            (
+                handler.NO_UNIT,
+                handler.ERROR_CODE,
+            )
+        )
+
         handler.add_method(
             "set_tree_step",
             (
@@ -614,6 +637,7 @@ def define_methods(self, handler):
     def define_particle_sets(self, handler):
         GravitationalDynamics.define_particle_sets(self, handler)
         self.stopping_conditions.define_particle_set(handler)
+        handler.add_getter('particles', 'get_binary_companion')
 
 
 PetarInterface = petarInterface