diff --git a/fitCurves.py b/fitCurves.py
index e19d08e..5e9391b 100644
--- a/fitCurves.py
+++ b/fitCurves.py
@@ -148,7 +148,7 @@ def computeMaxError(points, bez, parameters):
     maxDist = 0.0
     splitPoint = len(points)/2
     for i, (point, u) in enumerate(zip(points, parameters)):
-        dist = linalg.norm(bezier.q(bez, u)-point)**2
+        dist = ((bezier.q(bez, u) - point) ** 2).sum(-1)
         if dist > maxDist:
             maxDist = dist
             splitPoint = i
@@ -157,5 +157,7 @@ def computeMaxError(points, bez, parameters):
 
 
 def normalize(v):
-    return v / linalg.norm(v)
-
+    magnitude = sqrt(v.dot(v))
+    if magnitude < finfo(float).eps:
+        return v
+    return v / magnitude