diff --git a/src/fix_ave_time.cpp b/src/fix_ave_time.cpp
index fb1d8f9ff2..50654b6561 100644
--- a/src/fix_ave_time.cpp
+++ b/src/fix_ave_time.cpp
@@ -1028,7 +1028,7 @@ void FixAveTime::options(int iarg, int narg, char **arg)
   offlist = NULL;
   overwrite = 0;
   format_user = NULL;
-  format = (char *) " %f";
+  format = (char *) " %g";
   title1 = NULL;
   title2 = NULL;
   title3 = NULL;