diff --git a/opm/input/eclipse/share/keywords/900_OPM/M/MINNPCOL b/opm/input/eclipse/share/keywords/900_OPM/M/MINNPCOL
index 3d9a543218d..f8b40382100 100644
--- a/opm/input/eclipse/share/keywords/900_OPM/M/MINNPCOL
+++ b/opm/input/eclipse/share/keywords/900_OPM/M/MINNPCOL
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
     {
       "name": "VALUE",
       "value_type": "INT",
-      "default": 6
+      "default": 3
     }
   ]
 }