diff --git a/src/sampling/sampledSurface/writers/ensight/ensightSurfaceWriter.C b/src/sampling/sampledSurface/writers/ensight/ensightSurfaceWriter.C
index ef6575a29d..88f132a8bb 100644
--- a/src/sampling/sampledSurface/writers/ensight/ensightSurfaceWriter.C
+++ b/src/sampling/sampledSurface/writers/ensight/ensightSurfaceWriter.C
@@ -142,7 +142,10 @@ void Foam::ensightSurfaceWriter::updateMesh
 
         const fileName baseDir = outputDir.path()/surfName;
         const fileName timeDir = outputDir.name();
-        const scalar timeValue = readScalar(timeDir);
+
+        // Convert timeDir to a value (if possible - use 0.0 otherwise)
+        scalar timeValue = 0.0;
+        readScalar(timeDir, timeValue);
 
         if (!isDir(baseDir))
         {