diff --git a/SU2_PY/SU2/io/config.py b/SU2_PY/SU2/io/config.py
index a81ead0fd4b..c32fda6342f 100755
--- a/SU2_PY/SU2/io/config.py
+++ b/SU2_PY/SU2/io/config.py
@@ -729,9 +729,9 @@ def read_config(filename):
 
     # hack - twl
     if "DV_VALUE_NEW" not in data_dict:
-        data_dict["DV_VALUE_NEW"] = [0]
+        data_dict["DV_VALUE_NEW"] = data_dict.get("DV_VALUE", [0])
     if "DV_VALUE_OLD" not in data_dict:
-        data_dict["DV_VALUE_OLD"] = [0]
+        data_dict["DV_VALUE_OLD"] = data_dict.get("DV_VALUE", [0])
     if "OPT_ITERATIONS" not in data_dict:
         data_dict["OPT_ITERATIONS"] = 100
     if "OPT_ACCURACY" not in data_dict: