diff --git a/examples/ConfigFiles/Phase_Nonlocal_Nickel.config b/examples/ConfigFiles/Phase_Nonlocal_Nickel.config
index d57af1462..ab6505c50 100644
--- a/examples/ConfigFiles/Phase_Nonlocal_Nickel.config
+++ b/examples/ConfigFiles/Phase_Nonlocal_Nickel.config
@@ -55,8 +55,6 @@ q                       1                        # exponent for thermal barrier
 attackFrequency         50e9                     # attack frequency in Hz
 surfaceTransmissivity   1.0            # transmissivity of free surfaces for dislocation flux
 grainBoundaryTransmissivity   0.0
-aTol_rho                1e100          # absolute tolerance for dislocation density in m/m**3
-aTol_gamma              1e10           # absolute tolerance for dislocation density in m/m**3
 significantRho          1e8            # dislocation density considered relevant in m/m**3
 significantN            1
 shortRangeStressCorrection 0
diff --git a/src/constitutive_plastic_disloUCLA.f90 b/src/constitutive_plastic_disloUCLA.f90
index f7cc027e2..6be86f266 100644
--- a/src/constitutive_plastic_disloUCLA.f90
+++ b/src/constitutive_plastic_disloUCLA.f90
@@ -232,7 +232,7 @@ module subroutine plastic_disloUCLA_init
     endIndex   = endIndex + prm%sum_N_sl
     stt%gamma_sl => plasticState(p)%state(startIndex:endIndex,:)
     dot%gamma_sl => plasticState(p)%dotState(startIndex:endIndex,:)
-    plasticState(p)%atol(startIndex:endIndex) = 1.0e6_pReal                                         ! ARRG
+    plasticState(p)%atol(startIndex:endIndex) = 1.0e-2_pReal
     ! global alias
     plasticState(p)%slipRate        => plasticState(p)%dotState(startIndex:endIndex,:)
 
diff --git a/src/constitutive_plastic_dislotwin.f90 b/src/constitutive_plastic_dislotwin.f90
index 12118b15b..d36e08846 100644
--- a/src/constitutive_plastic_dislotwin.f90
+++ b/src/constitutive_plastic_dislotwin.f90
@@ -422,7 +422,7 @@ module subroutine plastic_dislotwin_init
     endIndex   = endIndex + prm%sum_N_sl
     stt%gamma_sl=>plasticState(p)%state(startIndex:endIndex,:)
     dot%gamma_sl=>plasticState(p)%dotState(startIndex:endIndex,:)
-    plasticState(p)%atol(startIndex:endIndex) = 1.0e6_pReal                                         ! ARRG
+    plasticState(p)%atol(startIndex:endIndex) = 1.0e-2_pReal
     ! global alias
     plasticState(p)%slipRate        => plasticState(p)%dotState(startIndex:endIndex,:)
 
diff --git a/src/constitutive_plastic_nonlocal.f90 b/src/constitutive_plastic_nonlocal.f90
index 66db46453..58218ac00 100644
--- a/src/constitutive_plastic_nonlocal.f90
+++ b/src/constitutive_plastic_nonlocal.f90
@@ -454,7 +454,7 @@ module subroutine plastic_nonlocal_init
     stt%gamma => plasticState(p)%state                      (10*prm%sum_N_sl + 1:11*prm%sum_N_sl,1:NipcMyPhase)
     dot%gamma => plasticState(p)%dotState                   (10*prm%sum_N_sl + 1:11*prm%sum_N_sl,1:NipcMyPhase)
     del%gamma => plasticState(p)%deltaState                 (10*prm%sum_N_sl + 1:11*prm%sum_N_sl,1:NipcMyPhase)
-    plasticState(p)%atol(10*prm%sum_N_sl+1:11*prm%sum_N_sl )  = config%getFloat('atol_gamma', defaultVal = 1.0e-20_pReal)
+    plasticState(p)%atol(10*prm%sum_N_sl+1:11*prm%sum_N_sl )  = config%getFloat('atol_gamma', defaultVal = 1.0e-2_pReal)
     if(any(plasticState(p)%atol(10*prm%sum_N_sl+1:11*prm%sum_N_sl) < 0.0_pReal)) &
       extmsg = trim(extmsg)//' atol_gamma'
     plasticState(p)%slipRate => plasticState(p)%dotState    (10*prm%sum_N_sl + 1:11*prm%sum_N_sl,1:NipcMyPhase)