diff --git a/code/mesh.f90 b/code/mesh.f90
index 045f43613..7358ea9eb 100644
--- a/code/mesh.f90
+++ b/code/mesh.f90
@@ -3608,17 +3608,18 @@ use IO, only: &
  implicit none
  integer(pInt), intent(in) :: myUnit
 
+#ifndef Spectral
  integer(pInt), parameter :: maxNchunks = 5_pInt
  integer(pInt), dimension (1+2*maxNchunks) :: myPos
  integer(pInt) chunk, Nchunks
  character(len=300) :: line, damaskOption, v
-#ifndef Spectral
  character(len=300) :: keyword 
 #endif
+
+#ifdef Spectral
+ mesh_periodicSurface = .true.
+#else
  mesh_periodicSurface = .false.
-
-610 FORMAT(A300)
-
 #ifdef Marc 
  keyword = '$damask'
 #endif
@@ -3631,33 +3632,22 @@ use IO, only: &
    read (myUnit,610,END=620) line
    myPos = IO_stringPos(line,maxNchunks)
    Nchunks = myPos(1)
-#ifndef Spectral
-   if (IO_lc(IO_stringValue(line,myPos,1_pInt)) == keyword .and. Nchunks > 1_pInt) then  ! found keyword for damask option and there is at least one more chunk to read
+   if (IO_lc(IO_stringValue(line,myPos,1_pInt)) == keyword .and. Nchunks > 1_pInt) then             ! found keyword for damask option and there is at least one more chunk to read
      damaskOption = IO_lc(IO_stringValue(line,myPos,2_pInt))
      select case(damaskOption)
-       case('periodic')                                                        ! damask Option that allows to specify periodic fluxes
-         do chunk = 3_pInt,Nchunks                                                  ! loop through chunks (skipping the keyword)
-            v = IO_lc(IO_stringValue(line,myPos,chunk))                       ! chunk matches keyvalues x,y, or z?
+       case('periodic')                                                                             ! damask Option that allows to specify periodic fluxes
+         do chunk = 3_pInt,Nchunks                                                                  ! loop through chunks (skipping the keyword)
+            v = IO_lc(IO_stringValue(line,myPos,chunk))                                             ! chunk matches keyvalues x,y, or z?
             mesh_periodicSurface(1) = mesh_periodicSurface(1) .or. v == 'x'
             mesh_periodicSurface(2) = mesh_periodicSurface(2) .or. v == 'y'
             mesh_periodicSurface(3) = mesh_periodicSurface(3) .or. v == 'z'
          enddo
      endselect
    endif
-#else
-   damaskOption = IO_lc(IO_stringValue(line,myPos,1_pInt))
-   select case(damaskOption)
-     case('periodic')                                                        ! damask Option that allows to specify periodic fluxes
-       do chunk = 2_pInt,Nchunks                                                  ! loop through chunks (skipping the keyword)
-          v = IO_lc(IO_stringValue(line,myPos,chunk))                       ! chunk matches keyvalues x,y, or z?
-          mesh_periodicSurface(1) = mesh_periodicSurface(1) .or. v == 'x'
-          mesh_periodicSurface(2) = mesh_periodicSurface(2) .or. v == 'y'
-          mesh_periodicSurface(3) = mesh_periodicSurface(3) .or. v == 'z'
-        enddo
-   endselect
-#endif
  enddo
+#endif
 
+610 FORMAT(A300)
 620 end subroutine mesh_get_damaskOptions