A method of reducing stray coupling in a qubit array, includes turning ON a first coupler between a first qubit and second qubit of the qubit array by providing a pulse having a first amplitude to the first coupler. A stray coupling between the first coupler and a spectator qubit is reduced by turning ON a second coupler coupled to the spectator qubit, by providing a compensation pulse having a second amplitude, to the second coupler, based on the pulse having the first amplitude.