diff --git a/dpdata/qe/traj.py b/dpdata/qe/traj.py
index ab1a790b5..e27990cbe 100644
--- a/dpdata/qe/traj.py
+++ b/dpdata/qe/traj.py
@@ -205,6 +205,7 @@ def to_system_data(input_name, prefix, begin=0, step=1):
         data["cells"], tmp_steps = load_data(
             prefix + ".cel", 3, begin=begin, step=step, convert=length_convert
         )
+        data["cells"] = np.transpose(data["cells"], (0, 2, 1))
         if csteps != tmp_steps:
             csteps.append(None)
             tmp_steps.append(None)
diff --git a/tests/qe.traj/traj6.cel b/tests/qe.traj/traj6.cel
index bcba5c377..c2a735317 100644
--- a/tests/qe.traj/traj6.cel
+++ b/tests/qe.traj/traj6.cel
@@ -1,24 +1,24 @@
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+0 5.279388982187173340e+00 8.121110815096156399e-01
+0 0 5.301664983741235737e+00