diff --git a/src/configuration.cc b/src/configuration.cc
index 74654b7..658da9c 100644
--- a/src/configuration.cc
+++ b/src/configuration.cc
@@ -279,6 +279,10 @@ namespace MUSIC {
   {
     if (defaultConfig_ == NULL)
       defaultConfig_ = new Configuration();
+
+    // set default values here
+    defaultConfig_->insert ("np", "1");
+
     return defaultConfig_;
   }