diff --git a/ush/templates/model_configure b/ush/templates/model_configure
index 1b0f7a815..fa2472e33 100644
--- a/ush/templates/model_configure
+++ b/ush/templates/model_configure
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ cpl:                     {{ cpl }}
 calendar:                'julian'
 memuse_verbose:          .false.
 atmos_nthreads:          {{ atmos_nthreads }}
-restart_interval:        {{ restart_interval }}
+restart_interval:        {{ restart_interval }}  -1
 output_1st_tstep_rst:    .false.
 write_dopost:            {{ write_dopost }}
 ideflate:                0