The present disclosure relates to a method of forming an integrated circuit (IC). In some embodiments, a substrate is provided comprising a memory region and a logic region. A sacrificial logic gate electrode is formed within the logic region together with a control gate electrode or a select gate electrode within the memory region by patterning a control gate layer or a select gate layer. A first inter-layer dielectric layer is formed between the sacrificial logic gate electrode and the control gate electrode or the select gate electrode. A hard mask is formed over the first inter-layer dielectric layer to cover the memory region and to expose the sacrificial logic gate electrode within the logic region. The sacrificial logic gate electrode is replaced with a high-k gate dielectric layer and a metal layer to form a metal gate electrode within the logic region.