diff --git a/flepimop2-op_engine/pyproject.toml b/flepimop2-op_engine/pyproject.toml
index 7a8613b..c62eac4 100644
--- a/flepimop2-op_engine/pyproject.toml
+++ b/flepimop2-op_engine/pyproject.toml
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ dependencies = [
   "op-engine @ git+https://github.com/ACCIDDA/op_engine.git@main",
 
   # flepimop2 is not in a registry, so keep it as a direct reference.
-  "flepimop2 @ git+https://github.com/ACCIDDA/flepimop2.git@43143a652480f3db4480884a436dba9d2ffb31d3",
+  "flepimop2 @ git+https://github.com/ACCIDDA/flepimop2.git@main",
 
   "pydantic>=2.0,<3",
   "numpy>=1.26",
diff --git a/flepimop2-op_engine/src/flepimop2/engine/op_engine/__init__.py b/flepimop2-op_engine/src/flepimop2/engine/op_engine/__init__.py
index 1e4eda2..f7817b4 100644
--- a/flepimop2-op_engine/src/flepimop2/engine/op_engine/__init__.py
+++ b/flepimop2-op_engine/src/flepimop2/engine/op_engine/__init__.py
@@ -6,10 +6,10 @@
 from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Literal
 
 import numpy as np
-from flepimop2.configuration import IdentifierString, ModuleModel
+from flepimop2.configuration import ModuleModel
 from flepimop2.engine.abc import EngineABC
 from flepimop2.exceptions import ValidationIssue
-from flepimop2.typing import StateChangeEnum  # noqa: TC002
+from flepimop2.typing import IdentifierString, StateChangeEnum  # noqa: TC002
 from pydantic import Field
 
 from op_engine.core_solver import (
@@ -159,7 +159,7 @@ def run(
             if isinstance(system_axis, str | int):
                 operator_axis = system_axis
 
-        stepper: SystemProtocol = system._stepper  # noqa: SLF001
+        stepper: SystemProtocol = system.bind()
 
         mixing_kernels = system.option("mixing_kernels", None)
         merged_params = {
diff --git a/flepimop2-op_engine/tests/test_engine.py b/flepimop2-op_engine/tests/test_engine.py
index dc24dbd..ddb3a48 100644
--- a/flepimop2-op_engine/tests/test_engine.py
+++ b/flepimop2-op_engine/tests/test_engine.py
@@ -2,7 +2,8 @@
 
 from __future__ import annotations
 
-from typing import TYPE_CHECKING
+import functools
+from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Any
 
 import numpy as np
 import pytest
@@ -11,7 +12,7 @@
 from flepimop2.engine.op_engine import OpEngineFlepimop2Engine
 
 if TYPE_CHECKING:
-    from flepimop2.system.abc import SystemProtocol
+    from flepimop2.typing import IdentifierString, SystemProtocol
 
 # -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 # Test helpers
@@ -33,7 +34,7 @@ def __call__(
 
 
 class _GoodSystem(SystemABC):
-    """SystemABC implementation exposing a valid stepper via _stepper."""
+    """SystemABC implementation exposing a valid stepper via bind()."""
 
     module = "flepimop2.system.test_good"
     state_change = "flow"
@@ -47,6 +48,11 @@ def __init__(self) -> None:
             }
         }
 
+    def _bind_impl(
+        self, params: dict[IdentifierString, Any] | None = None
+    ) -> SystemProtocol:
+        return functools.partial(self._stepper, **(params or {}))
+
 
 class _DeltaSystem(_GoodSystem):
     """SystemABC implementation with incompatible state_change."""
@@ -154,3 +160,31 @@ def test_validate_system_checks_state_change() -> None:
     issues = engine.validate_system(bad)
     assert issues is not None
     assert issues[0].kind == "incompatible_system"
+
+
+# -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# Bind API integration
+# -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+
+def test_engine_uses_bind_not_stepper() -> None:
+    """Engine calls system.bind() rather than accessing system._stepper."""
+    engine = OpEngineFlepimop2Engine(state_change="flow")
+    system = _GoodSystem()
+    bind_called = False
+    original_bind = system.bind
+
+    def tracking_bind(
+        params: dict[IdentifierString, Any] | None = None, **kwargs: object
+    ) -> SystemProtocol:
+        nonlocal bind_called
+        bind_called = True
+        return original_bind(params, **kwargs)
+
+    system.bind = tracking_bind  # type: ignore[assignment]
+
+    times = np.array([0.0, 0.1], dtype=np.float64)
+    y0 = np.array([1.0], dtype=np.float64)
+    engine.run(system, times, y0, {})
+
+    assert bind_called, "Engine should call system.bind()"