diff --git a/applications/solvers/heatTransfer/chtMultiRegionFoam/chtMultiRegionSimpleFoam/fluid/createFluidFields.H b/applications/solvers/heatTransfer/chtMultiRegionFoam/chtMultiRegionSimpleFoam/fluid/createFluidFields.H
index c46ac5021b..d811d4be86 100644
--- a/applications/solvers/heatTransfer/chtMultiRegionFoam/chtMultiRegionSimpleFoam/fluid/createFluidFields.H
+++ b/applications/solvers/heatTransfer/chtMultiRegionFoam/chtMultiRegionSimpleFoam/fluid/createFluidFields.H
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ PtrList<volScalarField> p_rghFluid(fluidRegions.size());
 PtrList<radiation::radiationModel> radiation(fluidRegions.size());
 
 List<scalar> initialMassFluid(fluidRegions.size());
-List<label> pRefCellFluid(fluidRegions.size(), 0);
+List<label> pRefCellFluid(fluidRegions.size(), -1);
 List<scalar> pRefValueFluid(fluidRegions.size(), 0.0);
 List<bool> frozenFlowFluid(fluidRegions.size(), false);
 
diff --git a/applications/solvers/heatTransfer/chtMultiRegionFoam/fluid/createFluidFields.H b/applications/solvers/heatTransfer/chtMultiRegionFoam/fluid/createFluidFields.H
index be1e3e57c0..1e51b9e1b8 100644
--- a/applications/solvers/heatTransfer/chtMultiRegionFoam/fluid/createFluidFields.H
+++ b/applications/solvers/heatTransfer/chtMultiRegionFoam/fluid/createFluidFields.H
@@ -289,7 +289,7 @@ forAll(fluidRegions, i)
 
     turbulenceFluid[i].validate();
 
-    pRefCellFluid[i] = 0;
+    pRefCellFluid[i] = -1;
     pRefValueFluid[i] = 0.0;
 
     if (p_rghFluid[i].needReference())