diff --git a/src/sys/petsclib.cxx b/src/sys/petsclib.cxx
index f1cf1a9d1b..2d161aa8f9 100644
--- a/src/sys/petsclib.cxx
+++ b/src/sys/petsclib.cxx
@@ -70,6 +70,7 @@ PetscLib::PetscLib(Options* opt) {
 
       output << "Initialising PETSc\n";
       PETSC_COMM_WORLD = BoutComm::getInstance()->getComm();
+      PetscOptionsSetValue(nullptr, "-options_left", "0");
       PetscInitialize(pargc, pargv, nullptr, PetscLibHelp);
       PetscPopSignalHandler();