diff --git a/lib_com/options.h b/lib_com/options.h
index cf71f5da64d4d5f0ab6d3061222ee60f0ff778a8..51319adce7eb0038ecb9adb211046ea1bba2c4c3 100644
--- a/lib_com/options.h
+++ b/lib_com/options.h
@@ -139,6 +139,8 @@
 #define NONBE_FIX_1004_USAN_DTX_MASA_NO_DIRS            /* Nokia: fix USAN error caused by non-setting of correctly the number of MASA directions in DTX */
 /* #define NONBE_FIX_991_PARAMBIN_BINARY_HRTF   */           /* Nokia: issue #991: fix using of binary file HRTF in ParamBin (to activate when USE_NEW_HRTF_BINARY_FILE_FORMAT and FIX_777_COMBI_RENDER_CONFIG_FILE are on ) */
 
+#define FIX_1008_EXTORIENT_TARGET_INTERPOLATION          /* FhG: issue #1008, external orientation init was wrong for 5ms */
+
 /* #################### End BASOP porting switches ############################ */
 
 #endif
diff --git a/lib_rend/ivas_rotation_fx.c b/lib_rend/ivas_rotation_fx.c
index aaae3e199d7a0aa7d26512ad20834b4755b75793..154dab32191fcc00f24e6d3f526dbb1cfc0438a0 100644
--- a/lib_rend/ivas_rotation_fx.c
+++ b/lib_rend/ivas_rotation_fx.c
@@ -1379,6 +1379,7 @@ ivas_error ivas_combined_orientation_open(
     move32();
     ( *hCombinedOrientationData )->interpolationIncrement_fx = ONE_IN_Q30; // Q30
     move32();
+#ifndef FIX_1008_EXTORIENT_TARGET_INTERPOLATION
     IF( EQ_16( num_subframes, 1 ) )
     {
         ( *hCombinedOrientationData )->maximumFramesToTargetOrientation = 2000;
@@ -1386,9 +1387,12 @@ ivas_error ivas_combined_orientation_open(
     }
     ELSE
     {
+#endif
         ( *hCombinedOrientationData )->maximumFramesToTargetOrientation = 500;
         move16();
+#ifndef FIX_1008_EXTORIENT_TARGET_INTERPOLATION
     }
+#endif
     ( *hCombinedOrientationData )->lrSwitchedNext = 0;
     move16();
     ( *hCombinedOrientationData )->lrSwitchedCurrent = 0;