diff --git a/src/nuclide.cpp b/src/nuclide.cpp
index f925861ab6..5ecbdc3b4d 100644
--- a/src/nuclide.cpp
+++ b/src/nuclide.cpp
@@ -32,8 +32,8 @@ namespace openmc {
 namespace data {
 std::array<double, 2> energy_min {0.0, 0.0};
 std::array<double, 2> energy_max {INFTY, INFTY};
-double temperature_min {0.0};
-double temperature_max {INFTY};
+double temperature_min {INFTY};
+double temperature_max {0.0};
 std::unordered_map<std::string, int> nuclide_map;
 std::vector<std::unique_ptr<Nuclide>> nuclides;
 } // namespace data
@@ -169,11 +169,10 @@ Nuclide::Nuclide(hid_t group, const std::vector<double>& temperature)
   // Sort temperatures to read
   std::sort(temps_to_read.begin(), temps_to_read.end());
 
-  double T_min_read = *std::min_element(temps_to_read.cbegin(), temps_to_read.cend());
-  double T_max_read = *std::max_element(temps_to_read.cbegin(), temps_to_read.cend());
-
-  data::temperature_min = std::max(data::temperature_min, T_min_read);
-  data::temperature_max = std::min(data::temperature_max, T_max_read);
+  data::temperature_min =
+    std::min(data::temperature_min, static_cast<double>(temps_to_read.front()));
+  data::temperature_max =
+    std::max(data::temperature_max, static_cast<double>(temps_to_read.back()));
 
   hid_t energy_group = open_group(group, "energy");
   for (const auto& T : temps_to_read) {