A method to correct a haptic output, the method including sending, at a device, a reference tactile signal to a haptic actuator and recording, using a sensor associated with the haptic actuator, an output signal from the haptic actuator. This output signal could be provided, along with the reference tactile signal to an engine at the device, which could be used to determine regions of perceptual distortion from the output signal and the reference tactile signal. Specifically, a perceptual similarity measure could be determined which could be used to generate an adapted signal to reduce and equalize the perceptual distortion, where the adapted signal could be provided to the haptic actuator to control adaptation or equalization of distortions.