spectremdl mvarsearch lm method?

Does the spectremdl mvarsearch option "method = `lm" work? In my sims it seems mvarsearch always uses `newton method.

The mdlref.pdf says (spectre version 17.1):

method:
The method to be used in the algorithm method. Possible values
are `newton (newton solver) and `lm (levenburg marquardt).
While `newton is faster than `lm, `lm has more robust
convergence properties. You should use `newton only when
init_val values are close to the final solution and you want a
faster optimization.
`newton assumes that the number of param_statement=number of zero_statement. If this is not true, mvarsearch automatically changes method to `lm.
Default value: `lm