diff --git a/python/damask/_configmaterial.py b/python/damask/_configmaterial.py
index e0ccaa44f..4abbdc0dc 100644
--- a/python/damask/_configmaterial.py
+++ b/python/damask/_configmaterial.py
@@ -157,7 +157,8 @@ class ConfigMaterial(Config):
             names = np.array([s.decode() for s in f[os.path.join(b,cell_ensemble_data,phase_names)]])
             phase = names[phase]
 
-        material = {k:np.atleast_1d(v[idx].squeeze()) for k,v in zip(['O','phase'],[O,phase])}
+        homog_types = np.array(['direct']*phase.size)   #assuming simpler homogenization scheme 
+        material = {k:np.atleast_1d(v[idx].squeeze()) for k,v in zip(['O','phase','homogenization'],[O,phase,homog_types])}
         return ConfigMaterial({'phase':{k if isinstance(k,int) else str(k):'t.b.d.' for k in np.unique(phase)},
                                'homogenization':{'direct':{'N_constituents':1}}}).material_add(**material)