diff --git a/mrdna/simulate.py b/mrdna/simulate.py
index 0f575fd2cc68a2a4fe5628ae99ebe2948cbb628d..348c452e901d0155354857195b25340f8dc40d1a 100644
--- a/mrdna/simulate.py
+++ b/mrdna/simulate.py
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ from . import get_resource_path
 def minimize_and_simulate_oxdna( model, 
                                  output_name,
                                  directory = None,
-                                 num_min_steps = 1e2,
+                                 num_min_steps = 5e2,
                                  num_steps = 1e7,
                                  output_period = None,
                                  **oxdna_args