diff --git a/openmc/deplete/chain.py b/openmc/deplete/chain.py
index c2b5b75b31..5814427852 100644
--- a/openmc/deplete/chain.py
+++ b/openmc/deplete/chain.py
@@ -398,7 +398,7 @@ class Chain(object):
             clean_indentation(root_elem)
             tree.write(str(filename), encoding='utf-8')
 
-    def get_thermal_fission_yields(self):
+    def get_default_fission_yields(self):
         """Return fission yields at lowest incident neutron energy
 
         Used as the default set of fission yields for :meth:`form_matrix`
@@ -440,13 +440,13 @@ class Chain(object):
 
         See Also
         --------
-        :meth:`get_thermal_fission_yields`
+        :meth:`get_default_fission_yields`
         """
         matrix = defaultdict(float)
         reactions = set()
 
         if fission_yields is None:
-            fission_yields = self.get_thermal_fission_yields()
+            fission_yields = self.get_default_fission_yields()
 
         for i, nuc in enumerate(self.nuclides):
 
@@ -721,7 +721,7 @@ class Chain(object):
     @property
     def fission_yields(self):
         if self._fission_yields is None:
-            self._fission_yields = [self.get_thermal_fission_yields()]
+            self._fission_yields = [self.get_default_fission_yields()]
         return self._fission_yields
 
     @fission_yields.setter
diff --git a/tests/dummy_operator.py b/tests/dummy_operator.py
index 85c689743a..35a526c30d 100644
--- a/tests/dummy_operator.py
+++ b/tests/dummy_operator.py
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ class TestChain(object):
     fission_yields = [None]
 
     @staticmethod
-    def get_thermal_fission_yields():
+    def get_default_fission_yields():
         return None
 
     def form_matrix(self, rates, _fission_yields=None):
diff --git a/tests/unit_tests/test_deplete_chain.py b/tests/unit_tests/test_deplete_chain.py
index 3dcd3ad750..d5a3857a52 100644
--- a/tests/unit_tests/test_deplete_chain.py
+++ b/tests/unit_tests/test_deplete_chain.py
@@ -385,13 +385,13 @@ def test_set_alpha_branches():
 def test_simple_fission_yields(simple_chain):
     """Check the default fission yields that can be used to form the matrix
     """
-    fission_yields = simple_chain.get_thermal_fission_yields()
+    fission_yields = simple_chain.get_default_fission_yields()
     assert fission_yields == {"C": {"A": 0.0292737, "B": 0.002566345}}
 
 
 def test_fission_yield_attribute(simple_chain):
     """Test the fission_yields property"""
-    thermal_yields = simple_chain.get_thermal_fission_yields()
+    thermal_yields = simple_chain.get_default_fission_yields()
     # generate default with property
     assert simple_chain.fission_yields[0] == thermal_yields
     empty_chain = Chain()