diff --git a/include/openmc/settings.h b/include/openmc/settings.h
index 7030803e9e..783c221266 100644
--- a/include/openmc/settings.h
+++ b/include/openmc/settings.h
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ extern RunMode run_mode;                 //!< Run mode (eigenvalue, fixed src, e
 extern std::unordered_set<int> sourcepoint_batch; //!< Batches when source should be written
 extern std::unordered_set<int> statepoint_batch; //!< Batches when state should be written
 extern std::unordered_set<int> source_write_surf_id; //!< Surface ids where sources will be written
-extern int64_t max_particles;            //!< maximum number of particles to be banked on surfaces per process
+extern int64_t max_surface_particles;    //!< maximum number of particles to be banked on surfaces per process
 extern TemperatureMethod temperature_method;           //!< method for choosing temperatures
 extern double temperature_tolerance;     //!< Tolerance in [K] on choosing temperatures
 extern double temperature_default;       //!< Default T in [K]
diff --git a/openmc/settings.py b/openmc/settings.py
index dc6a799f58..615e6365aa 100644
--- a/openmc/settings.py
+++ b/openmc/settings.py
@@ -152,8 +152,8 @@ class Settings:
 
         :surface_ids: List of surface ids at which crossing particles are to be
                    banked (int)
-        :max_particles: Maximum number of particles to be banked on surfaces
-                         per process (int)
+        :max_particles: Maximum number of particles to be banked on 
+                   surfaces per process (int)
     survival_biasing : bool
         Indicate whether survival biasing is to be used
     tabular_legendre : dict
diff --git a/src/settings.cpp b/src/settings.cpp
index 9df3b8c46c..41b18942c3 100644
--- a/src/settings.cpp
+++ b/src/settings.cpp
@@ -101,7 +101,7 @@ RunMode run_mode {RunMode::UNSET};
 std::unordered_set<int> sourcepoint_batch;
 std::unordered_set<int> statepoint_batch;
 std::unordered_set<int> source_write_surf_id;
-int64_t max_particles;
+int64_t max_surface_particles;
 TemperatureMethod temperature_method {TemperatureMethod::NEAREST};
 double temperature_tolerance {10.0};
 double temperature_default {293.6};
@@ -656,7 +656,7 @@ void read_settings_xml()
 
     // Get maximum number of particles to be banked per surface
     if (check_for_node(node_ssw, "max_particles")) {
-      max_particles = std::stoi(get_node_value(node_ssw, "max_particles"));
+      max_surface_particles = std::stoll(get_node_value(node_ssw, "max_particles"));
     }
   }
 
diff --git a/src/simulation.cpp b/src/simulation.cpp
index b4795f2e73..21630ad25c 100644
--- a/src/simulation.cpp
+++ b/src/simulation.cpp
@@ -289,7 +289,7 @@ void allocate_banks()
 
   if (settings::surf_source_write) {
     // Allocate surface source bank
-    simulation::surf_source_bank.reserve(settings::max_particles);
+    simulation::surf_source_bank.reserve(settings::max_surface_particles);
   }
 
 }