diff --git a/include/openmc/dagmc.h b/include/openmc/dagmc.h
index f50133105b..0a74928b89 100644
--- a/include/openmc/dagmc.h
+++ b/include/openmc/dagmc.h
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ public:
   explicit DAGUniverse(const std::string& filename, bool auto_geom_ids = false,
     bool auto_mat_ids = false);
 
-  //! Alternative DAGMC universe constructor for external DAGMC
+  //! Alternative DAGMC universe constructor for external DAGMC instance
   explicit DAGUniverse(std::shared_ptr<moab::DagMC> external_dagmc_ptr,
     const std::string& filename, bool auto_geom_ids = false,
     bool auto_mat_ids = false);
diff --git a/src/dagmc.cpp b/src/dagmc.cpp
index 2154db363e..8876690316 100644
--- a/src/dagmc.cpp
+++ b/src/dagmc.cpp
@@ -72,13 +72,12 @@ DAGUniverse::DAGUniverse(
     adjust_material_ids_(auto_mat_ids)
 {
   set_id();
-
   initialize();
 }
 
-DAGUniverse::DAGUniverse(std::shared_ptr<moab::DagMC> external_dagmc_ptr,
+DAGUniverse::DAGUniverse(std::shared_ptr<moab::DagMC> dagmc_ptr,
   const std::string& filename, bool auto_geom_ids, bool auto_mat_ids)
-  : dagmc_instance_(external_dagmc_ptr), filename_(filename),
+  : dagmc_instance_(dagmc_ptr), filename_(filename),
     adjust_geometry_ids_(auto_geom_ids), adjust_material_ids_(auto_mat_ids)
 {
   set_id();