diff --git a/src/initialize.F90 b/src/initialize.F90
index ced55d5757..c2d5e31860 100644
--- a/src/initialize.F90
+++ b/src/initialize.F90
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ module initialize
   use global
   use hdf5_interface,  only: file_open, read_attribute, file_close, &
                              hdf5_bank_t, hdf5_integer8_t
-  use input_xml,       only: read_input_xml, read_plots_xml
+  use input_xml,       only: read_input_xml
   use material_header, only: Material
   use message_passing
   use mgxs_data,       only: read_mgxs, create_macro_xs
@@ -82,18 +82,12 @@ contains
     ! Read command line arguments
     call read_command_line()
 
-    ! Read XML input files
-    call read_input_xml()
-
-    ! Initialize random number generator -- this has to be done after the input
-    ! files have been read in case the user specified a seed for the random
-    ! number generator
-
+    ! Initialize random number generator -- if the user specifies a seed, it
+    ! will be re-initialized later
     call initialize_prng()
 
-    ! Read plots.xml if it exists -- this has to be done separate from the other
-    ! XML files because we need the PRNG to be initialized first
-    if (run_mode == MODE_PLOTTING) call read_plots_xml()
+    ! Read XML input files
+    call read_input_xml()
 
     ! Initialize distribcell_filters
     call prepare_distribcell()
diff --git a/src/input_xml.F90 b/src/input_xml.F90
index 0c3cc08c30..e7ccc1f7cf 100644
--- a/src/input_xml.F90
+++ b/src/input_xml.F90
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ module input_xml
   use multipole,        only: multipole_read
   use output,           only: write_message, title, header
   use plot_header
-  use random_lcg,       only: prn, seed
+  use random_lcg,       only: prn, seed, initialize_prng
   use surface_header
   use set_header,       only: SetChar
   use stl_vector,       only: VectorInt, VectorReal, VectorChar
@@ -81,6 +81,9 @@ contains
     ! Normalize atom/weight percents
     if (run_mode /= MODE_PLOTTING) call normalize_ao()
 
+    ! Read plots.xml if it exists
+    if (run_mode == MODE_PLOTTING) call read_plots_xml()
+
   end subroutine read_input_xml
 
   subroutine finalize_geometry(material_temps, nuc_temps, sab_temps)
@@ -306,7 +309,10 @@ contains
     end if
 
     ! Copy random number seed if specified
-    if (check_for_node(root, "seed")) call get_node_value(root, "seed", seed)
+    if (check_for_node(root, "seed")) then
+      call get_node_value(root, "seed", seed)
+      call initialize_prng()
+    end if
 
     ! Number of bins for logarithmic grid
     if (check_for_node(root, "log_grid_bins")) then