We have measured the rotational velocity of the companion star to be Ʊrot sin i= 80 ± 10 km s ˗1 (1σ) by fitting Kurucz model spectra to our observed spectrum of the black-hole candidate GRO J1655–40. From this we have calculated q = 0·31 ± 0·08, the mass of the compact object to be M1 = 7·91 ± 3·79 Mô (1σ) and for the companion starM2 = 2·76 ± 1·79 Mô (1σ), which is consistent with previous studies. We have also determined Teff = 6500 ± 50 K and [Fe/H] = −0·15 +0·15-0·10.