diff --git a/applications/utilities/mesh/manipulation/splitMesh/splitMesh.C b/applications/utilities/mesh/manipulation/splitMesh/splitMesh.C
index 65e4d33237..bc193810bd 100644
--- a/applications/utilities/mesh/manipulation/splitMesh/splitMesh.C
+++ b/applications/utilities/mesh/manipulation/splitMesh/splitMesh.C
@@ -270,6 +270,10 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
     {
         mesh.setInstance(oldInstance);
     }
+    else
+    {
+        mesh.setInstance(runTime.timeName());
+    }
 
     Info<< "Writing mesh to " << runTime.timeName() << endl;
     if (!mesh.write())