diff --git a/pycalphad/mapping/strategy/strategy_base.py b/pycalphad/mapping/strategy/strategy_base.py
index 89088781f..d12cdd19a 100644
--- a/pycalphad/mapping/strategy/strategy_base.py
+++ b/pycalphad/mapping/strategy/strategy_base.py
@@ -114,7 +114,7 @@ def __init__(self, dbf: Database, components: list[str], phases: list[str], cond
         self.GLOBAL_CHECK_INTERVAL = kwargs.get("GLOBAL_CHECK_INTERVAL", 1)
         self.GLOBAL_MIN_PDENS = kwargs.get("GLOBAL_MIN_PDENS", 500)
         self.GLOBAL_MIN_TOL = kwargs.get("GLOBAL_MIN_TOL", 1e-4)
-        self.GLOBAL_MIN_NUM_CANDIDATES = kwargs.get("GLOBAL_MIN_NUM_CANDIDATES", 1000)
+        self.GLOBAL_MIN_NUM_CANDIDATES = kwargs.get("GLOBAL_MIN_NUM_CANDIDATES", 1)
 
     def _constant_kwargs(self):
         """