diff --git a/dafoam/pyDAFoam.py b/dafoam/pyDAFoam.py
index 6c2ba427..f8e74910 100755
--- a/dafoam/pyDAFoam.py
+++ b/dafoam/pyDAFoam.py
@@ -474,6 +474,7 @@ def __init__(self):
             "PCMatUpdateInterval": 1,
             "reduceIO": True,
             "additionalOutput": ["None"],
+            "readZeroFields": True,
         }
 
         ## At which iteration should we start the averaging of objective functions.
diff --git a/src/adjoint/DASolver/DAPimpleFoam/DAPimpleFoam.C b/src/adjoint/DASolver/DAPimpleFoam/DAPimpleFoam.C
index 1186bf99..ee510683 100755
--- a/src/adjoint/DASolver/DAPimpleFoam/DAPimpleFoam.C
+++ b/src/adjoint/DASolver/DAPimpleFoam/DAPimpleFoam.C
@@ -121,11 +121,15 @@ label DAPimpleFoam::solvePrimal(
     // change the run status
     daOptionPtr_->setOption<word>("runStatus", "solvePrimal");
 
-    // we need to read in the states from the 0 folder every time we start the primal
-    // here we read in all time levels
     runTime.setTime(0.0, 0);
-    this->readStateVars(0.0, 0);
-    this->readStateVars(0.0, 1);
+    // if readZeroFields, we need to read in the states from the 0 folder every time 
+    // we start the primal here we read in all time levels
+    label readZeroFields = daOptionPtr_->getAllOptions().subDict("unsteadyAdjoint").getLabel("readZeroFields");
+    if (readZeroFields)
+    {
+        this->readStateVars(0.0, 0);
+        this->readStateVars(0.0, 1);
+    }
 
     // call correctNut, this is equivalent to turbulence->validate();
     daTurbulenceModelPtr_->updateIntermediateVariables();
diff --git a/src/adjoint/DASolver/DARhoPimpleFoam/DARhoPimpleFoam.C b/src/adjoint/DASolver/DARhoPimpleFoam/DARhoPimpleFoam.C
index b53f1fad..b3a8eeb8 100755
--- a/src/adjoint/DASolver/DARhoPimpleFoam/DARhoPimpleFoam.C
+++ b/src/adjoint/DASolver/DARhoPimpleFoam/DARhoPimpleFoam.C
@@ -126,11 +126,15 @@ label DARhoPimpleFoam::solvePrimal(
     // change the run status
     daOptionPtr_->setOption<word>("runStatus", "solvePrimal");
 
-    // we need to read in the states from the 0 folder every time we start the primal
-    // here we read in all time levels
     runTime.setTime(0.0, 0);
-    this->readStateVars(0.0, 0);
-    this->readStateVars(0.0, 1);
+    // if readZeroFields, we need to read in the states from the 0 folder every time 
+    // we start the primal here we read in all time levels
+    label readZeroFields = daOptionPtr_->getAllOptions().subDict("unsteadyAdjoint").getLabel("readZeroFields");
+    if (readZeroFields)
+    {
+        this->readStateVars(0.0, 0);
+        this->readStateVars(0.0, 1);
+    }
 
     // call correctNut, this is equivalent to turbulence->validate();
     daTurbulenceModelPtr_->updateIntermediateVariables();