diff --git a/simpeg/optimization.py b/simpeg/optimization.py
index 343ff132ab..020e9a0155 100644
--- a/simpeg/optimization.py
+++ b/simpeg/optimization.py
@@ -1529,7 +1529,7 @@ def __init__(
         cg_rtol: float = None,
         cg_atol: float = None,
         step_active_set: bool = True,
-        active_set_grad_scale: float = 1e-2,
+        active_set_grad_scale: float | np.ndarray = 1e-2,
         **kwargs,
     ):
         if (val := kwargs.pop("tolCG", None)) is not None:
@@ -1619,9 +1619,16 @@ def active_set_grad_scale(self) -> float:
 
     @active_set_grad_scale.setter
     def active_set_grad_scale(self, value: float):
-        self._active_set_grad_scale = validate_float(
-            "active_set_grad_scale", value, min_val=0, inclusive_min=True
-        )
+        try:
+            value = validate_float("active_set_grad_scale", value)
+        except TypeError:
+            value = validate_ndarray_with_shape(
+                "active_set_grad_scale", value, shape=("*",)
+            )
+            if np.any(value < 0.0):
+                raise ValueError("active_set_grad_scale must be >= 0.0")
+
+        self._active_set_grad_scale = value
 
     @timeIt
     def findSearchDirection(self):