diff --git a/blackjax/mcmc/ss.py b/blackjax/mcmc/ss.py
index 50764ad4a..3a267cde0 100644
--- a/blackjax/mcmc/ss.py
+++ b/blackjax/mcmc/ss.py
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@
 """
 
 from functools import partial
-from typing import Callable, NamedTuple
+from typing import Callable, NamedTuple, Optional
 
 import jax
 import jax.numpy as jnp
@@ -87,7 +87,9 @@ class SliceInfo(NamedTuple):
 
 
 def init(
-    position: ArrayTree, logdensity_fn: Callable, constraint_fn: Callable
+    position: ArrayTree,
+    logdensity_fn: Callable,
+    constraint_fn: Optional[Callable] = None,
 ) -> SliceState:
     """Initialize the Slice Sampler state.
 
@@ -103,7 +105,9 @@ def init(
     SliceState
         The initial state of the Slice Sampler.
     """
-    return SliceState(position, logdensity_fn(position), constraint_fn(position))
+    logp = logdensity_fn(position)
+    constraint_val = (constraint_fn or (lambda _: jnp.array([])))(position)
+    return SliceState(position, logp, constraint_val)
 
 
 def build_kernel(
@@ -266,6 +270,7 @@ def build_hrss_kernel(
     generate_slice_direction_fn: Callable,
     stepper_fn: Callable,
     max_steps: int = 10,
+    max_shrinkage: int = 100,
 ) -> Callable:
     """Build a Hit-and-Run Slice Sampling kernel.
 
@@ -292,7 +297,7 @@ def build_hrss_kernel(
         A kernel function that takes a PRNG key, the current `SliceState`, and
         the log-density function, and returns a new `SliceState` and `SliceInfo`.
     """
-    slice_kernel = build_kernel(stepper_fn, max_steps)
+    slice_kernel = build_kernel(stepper_fn, max_steps, max_shrinkage)
 
     def kernel(
         rng_key: PRNGKey, state: SliceState, logdensity_fn: Callable
@@ -359,8 +364,7 @@ def sample_direction_from_covariance(rng_key: PRNGKey, cov: Array) -> Array:
 
 
 def hrss_as_top_level_api(
-    logdensity_fn: Callable,
-    cov: Array,
+    logdensity_fn: Callable, cov: Array, max_steps: int = 10, max_shrinkage: int = 100
 ) -> SamplingAlgorithm:
     """Creates a Hit-and-Run Slice Sampling algorithm.
 
@@ -384,7 +388,9 @@ def hrss_as_top_level_api(
         the configured Hit-and-Run Slice Sampler.
     """
     generate_slice_direction_fn = partial(sample_direction_from_covariance, cov=cov)
-    kernel = build_hrss_kernel(generate_slice_direction_fn, default_stepper_fn)
+    kernel = build_hrss_kernel(
+        generate_slice_direction_fn, default_stepper_fn, max_steps, max_shrinkage
+    )
     init_fn = partial(init, logdensity_fn=logdensity_fn)
     step_fn = partial(kernel, logdensity_fn=logdensity_fn)
     return SamplingAlgorithm(init_fn, step_fn)