diff --git a/openmc/mesh.py b/openmc/mesh.py
index 0d92208aa1..31b7789ee1 100644
--- a/openmc/mesh.py
+++ b/openmc/mesh.py
@@ -1269,8 +1269,7 @@ class CylindricalMesh(StructuredMesh):
         mesh.r_grid = [float(x) for x in get_text(elem, "r_grid").split()]
         mesh.phi_grid = [float(x) for x in get_text(elem, "phi_grid").split()]
         mesh.z_grid = [float(x) for x in get_text(elem, "z_grid").split()]
-        if "origin" in elem.attrib:
-            mesh.origin = [float(x) for x in get_text(elem, "origin").split()]
+        mesh.origin = [float(x) for x in get_text(elem, "origin", default=[0., 0., 0.]).split()]
 
         return mesh
 
@@ -1526,8 +1525,7 @@ class SphericalMesh(StructuredMesh):
         mesh.r_grid = [float(x) for x in get_text(elem, "r_grid").split()]
         mesh.theta_grid = [float(x) for x in get_text(elem, "theta_grid").split()]
         mesh.phi_grid = [float(x) for x in get_text(elem, "phi_grid").split()]
-        if "origin" in elem.attrib:
-            mesh.origin = [float(x) for x in get_text(elem, "origin").split()]
+        mesh.origin = [float(x) for x in get_text(elem, "origin", default=[0., 0., 0.]).split()]
 
         return mesh