diff --git a/applications/utilities/mesh/generation/blockMesh/blockMesh.C b/applications/utilities/mesh/generation/blockMesh/blockMesh.C
index 41e03bde29..65dfe0d830 100644
--- a/applications/utilities/mesh/generation/blockMesh/blockMesh.C
+++ b/applications/utilities/mesh/generation/blockMesh/blockMesh.C
@@ -401,8 +401,10 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
         {
             Info<< nl << "Detected cyclic patches; ordering boundary faces"
                 << endl;
+            const word oldInstance = mesh.instance();
             polyTopoChange meshMod(mesh);
             meshMod.changeMesh(mesh, false);
+            mesh.setInstance(oldInstance);
         }
     }