diff --git a/src/fvOptions/sources/interRegion/interRegionHeatTransferModel/interRegionHeatTransferModel/interRegionHeatTransferModel.C b/src/fvOptions/sources/interRegion/interRegionHeatTransferModel/interRegionHeatTransferModel/interRegionHeatTransferModel.C
index f535f93be4..d1b085f157 100644
--- a/src/fvOptions/sources/interRegion/interRegionHeatTransferModel/interRegionHeatTransferModel/interRegionHeatTransferModel.C
+++ b/src/fvOptions/sources/interRegion/interRegionHeatTransferModel/interRegionHeatTransferModel/interRegionHeatTransferModel.C
@@ -78,6 +78,9 @@ void Foam::fv::interRegionHeatTransferModel::setNbrModel()
     }
 
     firstIter_ = false;
+
+    // set nbr model's nbr model to avoid construction order problems
+    nbrModel_->setNbrModel();
 }