diff --git a/geomagio/Controller.py b/geomagio/Controller.py
index 8018b9f911390f1e07df25cb34ffe2ba9cd8e4a1..4469066a2d891e3d0b30daf8e588f6221d1e9515 100644
--- a/geomagio/Controller.py
+++ b/geomagio/Controller.py
@@ -1112,7 +1112,7 @@ def parse_args(args):
     processing_group.add_argument(
         "--update-limit",
         type=int,
-        default=0,
+        default=1,
         help="""
                 Update mode checks for gaps and will step backwards
                 to gap fill, if the start of the current interval is a gap,