diff --git a/applications/utilities/surface/surfaceRedistributePar/surfaceRedistributePar.C b/applications/utilities/surface/surfaceRedistributePar/surfaceRedistributePar.C
index d1b03a7dd7..783b165844 100644
--- a/applications/utilities/surface/surfaceRedistributePar/surfaceRedistributePar.C
+++ b/applications/utilities/surface/surfaceRedistributePar/surfaceRedistributePar.C
@@ -240,7 +240,10 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
         if (Pstream::master())
         {
             // Actually load the surface
+            const bool oldParRun = Pstream::parRun();
+            Pstream::parRun() = false;
             triSurfaceMesh surf(io);
+            Pstream::parRun() = oldParRun;
             s = surf;
             bbs = List<treeBoundBox>(1, treeBoundBox(boundBox::greatBox));
         }