diff --git a/da/tm5/model.py b/da/tm5/model.py
index ac5d88281c725c1f7f41e5dbbc334aa174a790d1..682143c361feedfeb7e93c85336418065e3cb548 100755
--- a/da/tm5/model.py
+++ b/da/tm5/model.py
@@ -338,7 +338,9 @@ def DaInitialize(rc_da_shell):
                 'savedir'       : rc_da_shell['dir.save']    ,
                 'das.input.dir' : rc_da_shell['dir.input']
                 }
-    if rc_da_shell['time.restart'] == True: NewItems['istart'] = 3
+
+    if rc_da_shell['time.restart'] or rc_da_shell['time.sample.start'] != rc_da_shell['time.start']: 
+        NewItems['istart'] = 3
 
     Tm5Model.ModifyRC(NewItems)