diff --git a/cython/pycddlib.pxi b/cython/pycddlib.pxi
index 94ce110..c014234 100644
--- a/cython/pycddlib.pxi
+++ b/cython/pycddlib.pxi
@@ -89,14 +89,15 @@ cdef _get_set(set_type set_):
         elem for elem in range(set_[0]) if set_member(elem + 1, set_)
     }
 
-cdef _set_set(set_type set_, elems):
+cdef _set_set(set_type set_, elems, bool is_var_ind=False):
     # set elements of set_type by elements from a Python Container
     cdef unsigned long elem
+    offset = 2 if is_var_ind else 1
     for elem in range(set_[0]):
         if elem in elems:
-            set_addelem(set_, elem + 1)
+            set_addelem(set_, elem + offset)
         else:
-            set_delelem(set_, elem + 1)
+            set_delelem(set_, elem + offset)
 
 cdef setfam_from_ptr(dd_SetFamilyPtr dd_setfam):
     # create Python Sequence[Set] from dd_SetFamilyPtr, and
@@ -1171,8 +1172,8 @@ def fourier_elimination(mat: Matrix) -> Matrix:
     return matrix_from_ptr_with_error(dd_mat, error)
 
 
-def block_elimination(mat: Matrix, col_set: Container[int]) -> Matrix:
-    """Eliminate the variables *col_set* from the system of linear inequalities *mat*.
+def block_elimination(mat: Matrix, var_set: Container[int]) -> Matrix:
+    """Eliminate the variables *var_set* from the system of linear inequalities *mat*.
     It does this by using the generators of the dual linear system,
     where the generators are calculated using the double description algorithm.
 
@@ -1191,7 +1192,7 @@ def block_elimination(mat: Matrix, col_set: Container[int]) -> Matrix:
     cdef dd_ErrorType error = dd_NoError
     set_initialize(&dd_colset, mat.dd_mat.colsize)
     try:
-        _set_set(dd_colset, col_set)
+        _set_set(dd_colset, var_set, True)
         dd_mat = dd_BlockElimination(mat.dd_mat, dd_colset, &error)
         return matrix_from_ptr_with_error(dd_mat, error)
     finally:
diff --git a/test/test_block_elimination.py b/test/test_block_elimination.py
index b446425..32d583d 100644
--- a/test/test_block_elimination.py
+++ b/test/test_block_elimination.py
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ def test_block_elimination_1() -> None:
     # 0 <= 1 + a + b + c + d,  0 <= 1 + 2a - b - c - d
     array = [[1, 1, 1, 1, 1], [1, 2, -1, -1, -1]]
     mat1 = cdd.matrix_from_array(array, rep_type=cdd.RepType.INEQUALITY)
-    mat2 = cdd.block_elimination(mat1, {2, 3, 4})
+    mat2 = cdd.block_elimination(mat1, {1, 2, 3})
     # 0 <= 2 + 3a
     assert_matrix_almost_equal(mat2.array, [[2, 3]])
     assert mat2.lin_set == set()
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ def test_block_elimination_2() -> None:
     ]
     mat1 = cdd.matrix_from_array(array, rep_type=cdd.RepType.INEQUALITY)
     # eliminate last variable, same as fourier
-    mat2 = cdd.block_elimination(mat1, {3})
+    mat2 = cdd.block_elimination(mat1, {2})
     assert_matrix_almost_equal(
         mat2.array,
         [
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ def test_block_elimination_3() -> None:
     # 0 = -2 + x + y, 0 <= y
     array = [[-2, 1, 1], [0, 0, 1]]
     mat1 = cdd.matrix_from_array(array, rep_type=cdd.RepType.INEQUALITY, lin_set=[0])
-    mat2 = cdd.block_elimination(mat1, {2})
+    mat2 = cdd.block_elimination(mat1, {1})
     # 0 <= 2 - x
     assert_matrix_almost_equal(mat2.array, [[2, -1]])
     assert mat2.lin_set == set()