diff --git a/compas_python_utils/preprocessing/compasConfigDefault.yaml b/compas_python_utils/preprocessing/compasConfigDefault.yaml
index 89ab35b98..a4542a464 100644
--- a/compas_python_utils/preprocessing/compasConfigDefault.yaml
+++ b/compas_python_utils/preprocessing/compasConfigDefault.yaml
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ numericalChoices:
 #    --hdf5-buffer-size: 1                                                 # Default: 1
 #    --log-level: 0                                                        # Default: 0
 #    --mass-change-fraction: 0.001000                                      # Default: 0.001000                                                                                                                                                                         # approximate desired fractional changes in stellar mass per timestep
-#    --maximum-evolution-time: 14021.28                                    # Default: 14021.28                                                                                                                                                                         # maximum physical time a system can be evolved [Myr]
+#    --maximum-evolution-time: 13800                                       # Default: 13800 Myr                                                                                                                                                                        # maximum physical time a system can be evolved [Myr]
 #    --maximum-number-timestep-iterations: 99999                           # Default: 99999
 #    --number-of-systems: 10                                               # Default: 10                                                                                                                                                                               # number of systems per batch
 #    --radial-change-fraction: 0.100000                                    # Default: 0.100000                                                                                                                                                                         # approximate desired fractional changes in stellar radius per timestep
diff --git a/online-docs/pages/User guide/Program options/program-options-list-defaults.rst b/online-docs/pages/User guide/Program options/program-options-list-defaults.rst
index f58250522..c2fc7c6c3 100644
--- a/online-docs/pages/User guide/Program options/program-options-list-defaults.rst	
+++ b/online-docs/pages/User guide/Program options/program-options-list-defaults.rst	
@@ -939,7 +939,8 @@ Default = 10.0
 
 **--maximum-evolution-time** |br|
 Maximum time to evolve binaries (Myr). Evolution of the binary will stop if this number is reached. |br|
-Default = 13700.0
+Set to 13800 Myr as the approximate age of the Universe cf. WMPA and Planck. |br|
+Default = 13800 
 
 **--maximum-mass-donor-nandez-ivanova** |br|
 Maximum donor mass allowed for the revised common envelope formalism of Nandez & Ivanova (:math:`M_\odot`). |br|
diff --git a/src/Options.cpp b/src/Options.cpp
index ec62db46c..4bdb884c6 100644
--- a/src/Options.cpp
+++ b/src/Options.cpp
@@ -241,7 +241,7 @@ void Options::OptionValues::Initialise() {
     m_RandomSeed                                                    = 0;
 
     // Specify how long to evolve for
-    m_MaxEvolutionTime                                              = HUBBLE_TIME / SECONDS_IN_MYR; //13700.0;
+    m_MaxEvolutionTime                                              = 13800; // in Myr; approximate age of the Universe cf. WMPA and Planck. ;
     m_MaxNumberOfTimestepIterations                                 = 99999;
     m_TimestepsFileName                                             = "";
 
@@ -2618,7 +2618,7 @@ std::string Options::OptionValues::CheckAndSetOptions() {
         COMPLAIN_IF(m_MassRatioDistributionMax <= m_MassRatioDistributionMin, "Maximum mass ratio (--mass-ratio-max) must be > Minimum mass ratio (--mass-ratio-min)");
 
         COMPLAIN_IF(m_MaxEvolutionTime <= 0.0, "Maximum evolution time in Myr (--maxEvolutionTime) must be > 0");
-        COMPLAIN_IF(m_MaxEvolutionTime > HUBBLE_TIME / SECONDS_IN_MYR, "Maximum evolution time in Myr (--maxEvolutionTime) must be <= " + std::to_string(HUBBLE_TIME / SECONDS_IN_MYR) + " Myr");
+        COMPLAIN_IF(m_MaxEvolutionTime > 13800, "Maximum evolution time in Myr (--maxEvolutionTime) must be <= " + std::to_string(13800) + " Myr");
 
         COMPLAIN_IF(m_Metallicity < MINIMUM_METALLICITY || m_Metallicity > MAXIMUM_METALLICITY, "Metallicity (--metallicity) should be absolute metallicity and must be between " + std::to_string(MINIMUM_METALLICITY) + " and " + std::to_string(MAXIMUM_METALLICITY));
         COMPLAIN_IF(m_MetallicityDistributionMin < MINIMUM_METALLICITY || m_MetallicityDistributionMin > MAXIMUM_METALLICITY, "Minimum metallicity (--metallicity-min) must be between " + std::to_string(MINIMUM_METALLICITY) + " and " + std::to_string(MAXIMUM_METALLICITY));