diff --git a/src/reactingFlow.cpp b/src/reactingFlow.cpp
index 6e989ee4..f029e3ce 100644
--- a/src/reactingFlow.cpp
+++ b/src/reactingFlow.cpp
@@ -474,7 +474,7 @@ ReactingFlow::ReactingFlow(mfem::ParMesh *pmesh, LoMachOptions *loMach_opts, tem
   tpsP_->getInput("loMach/reactingFlow/ic", ic_string_, std::string(""));
 
   // will be over-written if dynamic is active
-  tpsP_->getInput("loMach/reactingFlow/sub-steps", nSub_, 2);
+  tpsP_->getInput("loMach/reactingFlow/sub-steps", nSub_, 1);
   tpsP_->getInput("loMach/reactingFlow/dynamic-substep", dynamic_substepping_, true);
   if (dynamic_substepping_) nSub_ = 2;