diff --git a/workflow/applications/applications.py b/workflow/applications/applications.py
index f6e504f2fe..09cb22f0a2 100644
--- a/workflow/applications/applications.py
+++ b/workflow/applications/applications.py
@@ -102,13 +102,13 @@ def _init_finalize(self, conf: Configuration):
         self.configs_names = self._get_app_configs()
 
         # Source the config files for the jobs in the application without specifying a RUN
-        self.configs = {'_': self._source_configs(conf)}
+        self.configs = {'_no_run': self._source_configs(conf)}
 
         # Update the base config dictionary base on application
-        self.configs['_']['base'] = self._update_base(self.configs['_']['base'])
+        self.configs['_no_run']['base'] = self._update_base(self.configs['_no_run']['base'])
 
         # Save base in the internal state since it is often needed
-        self._base = self.configs['_']['base']
+        self._base = self.configs['_no_run']['base']
 
         # Get more configuration options into the class attributes
         self.gfs_cyc = self._base.get('gfs_cyc')
diff --git a/workflow/rocoto/workflow_xml.py b/workflow/rocoto/workflow_xml.py
index 8280a72359..92aebb1818 100644
--- a/workflow/rocoto/workflow_xml.py
+++ b/workflow/rocoto/workflow_xml.py
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ def __init__(self, app_config: AppConfig, rocoto_config: Dict) -> None:
         self.rocoto_config = rocoto_config
 
         # Use the generic config.base (without RUN specified)
-        self._base = self._app_config.configs['_']['base']
+        self._base = self._app_config.configs['_no_run']['base']
 
         self.preamble = self._get_preamble()
         self.definitions = self._get_definitions()