diff --git a/examples/lkat_trace.py b/examples/lkat_trace.py
index 75e6b60c8e9e28ca93ead5e2b247ef345036458f..2c7a88f5564c4323147cd694a2e515bb4a14b977 100644
--- a/examples/lkat_trace.py
+++ b/examples/lkat_trace.py
@@ -4,12 +4,12 @@ cmd = """
 l l1 1 0 n1
 s s1 1 n1 n2
 m m1 0.99 0.01 0 n2 n3
-s s2 100 n3 n4
+s s2 999 n3 n4
 m m2 0.99 0.01 0 n4 n5
 pd circ n3
 
 noxaxis
-maxtem 2
+maxtem 0
 
 attr m1 Rc 0
 attr m2 Rc 1000 
diff --git a/pykat/finesse.py b/pykat/finesse.py
index 4dc28f21853c48874980c70b482155107c8d029e..76603e08d25668cdc1015c34e2ffcc6a72b40cc7 100644
--- a/pykat/finesse.py
+++ b/pykat/finesse.py
@@ -1192,10 +1192,17 @@ class kat(object):
             raise RuntimeError("Could not find shared library 'libkat', please install to a system location or copy to the same directory as this script")
             
         trace_info = Manager().dict()
-
-        p = self.getProcess(f__lkat_trace_callback, trace_info=trace_info)
-        p.start()
-        p.join()
+        
+        prev = self.maxtem
+        self.maxtem = 0
+        
+        try:
+            p = self.getProcess(f__lkat_trace_callback, trace_info=trace_info)
+            p.start()
+            p.join()
+            
+        finally:
+            self.maxtem = prev
 
         # return a local copy of the trace information dictionary
         return dict(trace_info)