diff --git a/openmc/cell.py b/openmc/cell.py
index e8b9033a96..bcd2e5fd00 100644
--- a/openmc/cell.py
+++ b/openmc/cell.py
@@ -291,6 +291,7 @@ class Cell(object):
 
     @temperature.setter
     def temperature(self, temperature):
+        # Make sure temperatures are positive
         cv.check_type('cell temperature', temperature, (Iterable, Real))
         if isinstance(temperature, Iterable):
             cv.check_type('cell temperature', temperature, Iterable, Real)
@@ -298,7 +299,15 @@ class Cell(object):
                 cv.check_greater_than('cell temperature', T, 0.0, True)
         else:
             cv.check_greater_than('cell temperature', temperature, 0.0, True)
-        self._temperature = temperature
+
+        # If this cell is filled with a universe or lattice, propagate
+        # temperatures to all cells contained. Otherwise, simply assign it.
+        if self.fill_type in ('universe', 'lattice'):
+            for c in self.get_all_cells().values():
+                if c.fill_type == 'material':
+                    c._temperature = temperature
+        else:
+            self._temperature = temperature
 
     @offsets.setter
     def offsets(self, offsets):