diff --git a/blueprints/test_chemistry/config.bash b/blueprints/test_chemistry/config.bash
index 553053e4cd5a7cc53682102e3390f06271260163..44ec3632155efccae34fdbe8cacbb2377c684e7c 100644
--- a/blueprints/test_chemistry/config.bash
+++ b/blueprints/test_chemistry/config.bash
@@ -101,7 +101,7 @@ TUVDataPath="/alcc/gpfs2/home/mbees/data/tuv/TUV.phot.bz2"
 # --- overriding default values ---
 
 nNodesMain=1
-nTasksPerNodeMain=7
+nTasksPerNodeMain=9
 
 nNodesSpinup=1
-nTasksPerNodeSpinup=7
+nTasksPerNodeSpinup=9
diff --git a/blueprints/test_chemistry/namelist.wrf b/blueprints/test_chemistry/namelist.wrf
index 49bb51700be10922d2037a551e20771fb289d342..97f1b40f4494ba16eacd0cc13ac76c0392c20d1d 100644
--- a/blueprints/test_chemistry/namelist.wrf
+++ b/blueprints/test_chemistry/namelist.wrf
@@ -55,6 +55,8 @@
  parent_grid_ratio                   = 1, 9, 5,
  parent_time_step_ratio              = 1, 9, 5,
  feedback                            = 0,
+ nproc_x                             = 3,
+ nproc_y                             = 3,
  /
 
  &physics