diff --git a/docs/source/io_formats/settings.rst b/docs/source/io_formats/settings.rst
index 7174c5317a..01b1852ca2 100644
--- a/docs/source/io_formats/settings.rst
+++ b/docs/source/io_formats/settings.rst
@@ -732,6 +732,14 @@ attributes/sub-elements:
 
     *Default*: false
 
+  :mcpl:
+    If this element is set to "true", the source point file containing the
+    source bank will be written as an MCPL_ file name ``source.mcpl`` instead of
+    an HDF5 file. This option is only applicable if the ``<separate>`` element
+    is set to true.
+
+    *Default*: false
+
 ------------------------------
 ``<surf_source_read>`` Element
 ------------------------------
@@ -769,13 +777,13 @@ certain surfaces and write out the source bank in a separate file called
 
   :mcpl:
     An optional boolean which indicates if the banked particles should be
-    written to a file in the MCPL-format (documented in mcpl_). instead of the
-    native HDF5-based format. If activated the output file name is changed to
+    written to a file in the MCPL_-format instead of the native HDF5-based
+    format. If activated the output file name is changed to
     ``surface_source.mcpl``.
 
     *Default*: false
 
-    .. _mcpl: https://mctools.github.io/mcpl/mcpl.pdf
+    .. _MCPL: https://mctools.github.io/mcpl/mcpl.pdf
 
 ------------------------------
 ``<survival_biasing>`` Element
diff --git a/openmc/settings.py b/openmc/settings.py
index fd622870c5..cc0ca29645 100644
--- a/openmc/settings.py
+++ b/openmc/settings.py
@@ -156,6 +156,7 @@ class Settings:
         :separate: bool indicating whether the source should be written as a
                    separate file
         :write: bool indicating whether or not to write the source
+        :mcpl: bool indicating whether to write the source as an MCPL file
     statepoint : dict
         Options for writing state points. Acceptable keys are:
 
@@ -620,6 +621,8 @@ class Settings:
                 cv.check_type('sourcepoint write', value, bool)
             elif key == 'overwrite':
                 cv.check_type('sourcepoint overwrite', value, bool)
+            elif key == 'mcpl':
+                cv.check_type('sourcepoint mcpl', value, bool)
             else:
                 raise ValueError(f"Unknown key '{key}' encountered when "
                                  "setting sourcepoint options.")
@@ -1019,6 +1022,11 @@ class Settings:
                 subelement = ET.SubElement(element, "overwrite_latest")
                 subelement.text = str(self._sourcepoint['overwrite']).lower()
 
+            if 'mcpl' in self._sourcepoint:
+                subelement = ET.SubElement(element, "mcpl")
+                subelement.text = str(self._sourcepoint['mcpl']).lower()
+
+
     def _create_surf_source_read_subelement(self, root):
         if self._surf_source_read:
             element = ET.SubElement(root, "surf_source_read")
@@ -1319,10 +1327,10 @@ class Settings:
     def _sourcepoint_from_xml_element(self, root):
         elem = root.find('source_point')
         if elem is not None:
-            for key in ('separate', 'write', 'overwrite_latest', 'batches'):
+            for key in ('separate', 'write', 'overwrite_latest', 'batches', 'mcpl'):
                 value = get_text(elem, key)
                 if value is not None:
-                    if key in ('separate', 'write'):
+                    if key in ('separate', 'write', 'mcpl'):
                         value = value in ('true', '1')
                     elif key == 'overwrite_latest':
                         value = value in ('true', '1')
diff --git a/tests/unit_tests/test_settings.py b/tests/unit_tests/test_settings.py
index 7678711a43..f1ae581923 100644
--- a/tests/unit_tests/test_settings.py
+++ b/tests/unit_tests/test_settings.py
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ def test_export_to_xml(run_in_tmpdir):
     s.output = {'summary': True, 'tallies': False, 'path': 'here'}
     s.verbosity = 7
     s.sourcepoint = {'batches': [50, 150, 500, 1000], 'separate': True,
-                     'write': True, 'overwrite': True}
+                     'write': True, 'overwrite': True, 'mcpl': True}
     s.statepoint = {'batches': [50, 150, 500, 1000]}
     s.surf_source_read = {'path': 'surface_source_1.h5'}
     s.surf_source_write = {'surface_ids': [2], 'max_particles': 200}
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ def test_export_to_xml(run_in_tmpdir):
     assert s.output == {'summary': True, 'tallies': False, 'path': 'here'}
     assert s.verbosity == 7
     assert s.sourcepoint == {'batches': [50, 150, 500, 1000], 'separate': True,
-                             'write': True, 'overwrite': True}
+                             'write': True, 'overwrite': True, 'mcpl': True}
     assert s.statepoint == {'batches': [50, 150, 500, 1000]}
     assert s.surf_source_read == {'path': 'surface_source_1.h5'}
     assert s.surf_source_write == {'surface_ids': [2], 'max_particles': 200}