diff --git a/geomagio/Controller.py b/geomagio/Controller.py
index 70af14041ab4a2862515b39c75a5f58da80af8ff..d20aee0ea2997bdd1d1e4d619c2af652b11dc982 100644
--- a/geomagio/Controller.py
+++ b/geomagio/Controller.py
@@ -1085,7 +1085,7 @@ 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,