diff --git a/src/core/read_params.c b/src/core/read_params.c
index 80eec54b..75182d3d 100644
--- a/src/core/read_params.c
+++ b/src/core/read_params.c
@@ -151,8 +151,9 @@ void read_parameter_file(char* fname, int mode)
 
       strncpy(params_tag[n_param], "SimParamsFile", tag_length);
       params_addr[n_param] = run_params->SimParamsFile;
-      required_tag[n_param] = 1;
+      required_tag[n_param] = 0;
       params_type[n_param++] = PARAM_TYPE_STRING;
+      *(run_params->SimParamsFile) = '\0';
 
       strncpy(params_tag[n_param], "OutputDir", tag_length);
       params_addr[n_param] = run_params->OutputDir;
@@ -1233,17 +1234,16 @@ void read_parameter_file(char* fname, int mode)
     // Parse the user parameter file first
     n_entries = parse_paramfile(fname, entry);
     store_params(entry, n_entries, params_tag, n_param, used_tag, params_type, params_addr);
-    mlog("Read input.par", MLOG_MESG);
 
     // Now parse the default parameter file
     n_entries = parse_paramfile(run_params->DefaultsFile, entry);
     store_params(entry, n_entries, params_tag, n_param, used_tag, params_type, params_addr);
-    mlog("Read defaults.par", MLOG_MESG);
 
     // Finally, parse the simulation parameter file
-    n_entries = parse_paramfile(run_params->SimParamsFile, entry);
-    store_params(entry, n_entries, params_tag, n_param, used_tag, params_type, params_addr);
-    mlog("Read sims file", MLOG_MESG);
+    if (strlen(run_params->SimParamsFile) > 0) {
+      n_entries = parse_paramfile(run_params->SimParamsFile, entry);
+      store_params(entry, n_entries, params_tag, n_param, used_tag, params_type, params_addr);
+    }
 
     // Check to see if we are missing any required parameters
     for (ii = 0; ii < n_param; ii++)