diff --git a/include/openmc/dagmc.h b/include/openmc/dagmc.h
index 8b26b6224..1fcbb04a0 100644
--- a/include/openmc/dagmc.h
+++ b/include/openmc/dagmc.h
@@ -140,9 +140,10 @@ public:
   bool has_graveyard() const { return has_graveyard_; }
 
 private:
-  void init_dagmc();
-  void init_cells();
-  void init_surfaces();
+  void set_id();             //!< Deduce the universe id from model::universes
+  void init_dagmc();         //!< Create and initialise DAGMC pointer
+  void init_cells();         //!< Create cells from DAGMC volumes
+  void init_surfaces();      //!< Create surfaces from DAGMC surfaces
 
   std::string
     filename_; //!< Name of the DAGMC file used to create this universe
@@ -156,7 +157,7 @@ private:
                              //!< generate new material IDs for the universe
   bool has_graveyard_; //!< Indicates if the DAGMC geometry has a "graveyard"
                        //!< volume
-  moab::EntityHandle graveyard; //! MOAB index for graveyard
+  moab::EntityHandle graveyard; //!< MOAB index for graveyard
 };
 
 //==============================================================================
diff --git a/src/dagmc.cpp b/src/dagmc.cpp
index c28b0ec9a..260f58ebb 100644
--- a/src/dagmc.cpp
+++ b/src/dagmc.cpp
@@ -70,6 +70,13 @@ DAGUniverse::DAGUniverse(
   const std::string& filename, bool auto_geom_ids, bool auto_mat_ids)
   : filename_(filename), adjust_geometry_ids_(auto_geom_ids),
     adjust_material_ids_(auto_mat_ids)
+{
+  set_id();
+
+  initialize();
+}
+
+void DAGUniverse::set_id()
 {
   // determine the next universe id
   int32_t next_univ_id = 0;
@@ -81,8 +88,6 @@ DAGUniverse::DAGUniverse(
 
   // set the universe id
   id_ = next_univ_id;
-
-  initialize();
 }
 
 void DAGUniverse::initialize()
@@ -91,6 +96,8 @@ void DAGUniverse::initialize()
 
   init_dagmc();
 
+  read_uwuw_materials();
+
   init_cells();
 
   init_surfaces();
@@ -102,19 +109,6 @@ void DAGUniverse::init_dagmc()
   // create a new DAGMC instance
   dagmc_instance_ = std::make_shared<moab::DagMC>();
 
-  // --- Materials ---
-
-  // read any UWUW materials from the file
-  read_uwuw_materials();
-
-  // check for uwuw material definitions
-  bool using_uwuw = uses_uwuw();
-
-  // notify user if UWUW materials are going to be used
-  if (using_uwuw) {
-    write_message("Found UWUW Materials in the DAGMC geometry file.", 6);
-  }
-
   // load the DAGMC geometry
   filename_ = settings::path_input + filename_;
   if (!file_exists(filename_)) {
@@ -514,6 +508,9 @@ void DAGUniverse::read_uwuw_materials()
   if (mat_lib.size() == 0)
     return;
 
+  // notify user if UWUW materials are going to be used
+  write_message("Found UWUW Materials in the DAGMC geometry file.", 6);
+
   // if we're using automatic IDs, update the UWUW material metadata
   if (adjust_material_ids_) {
     for (auto& mat : uwuw_->material_library) {