A method and apparatus for pre-conditioning a polishing pad for use in chemical mechanical planarization of semiconductor wafers is described. The apparatus includes a pre-conditioning member having a smooth surface. The method includes providing a pre-conditioning member having a smooth surface, pressing the pre-conditioning member against the polishing pad while moving the polishing pad, and flattening the surface of the polishing pad until a polishing pad flatness is achieved that may be used to achieve a desired semiconductor wafer planarity.