diff --git a/packet.cc b/packet.cc
index 12d8a4768..822eb11c2 100644
--- a/packet.cc
+++ b/packet.cc
@@ -133,14 +133,10 @@ void packet_init(Packet *pkt)
 
   // Now place the pellets in the ejecta and decide at what time they will decay.
 
-  if (globals::npkts > MPKTS) {
-    printout("Too many packets. Abort.\n");
-    std::abort();
-  }
-
   printout("Placing pellets...\n");
   auto allpkts = std::ranges::iota_view{0, globals::npkts};
   std::ranges::for_each(allpkts, [&, norm, e0](const int n) {
+    pkt[n] = Packet{};
     const double targetval = rng_uniform() * norm;
 
     // first i such that en_cumulative[i] > targetval
diff --git a/sn3d.cc b/sn3d.cc
index d39cdc044..ea0945cfe 100644
--- a/sn3d.cc
+++ b/sn3d.cc
@@ -883,7 +883,7 @@ auto main(int argc, char *argv[]) -> int {
     }
   }
 
-  auto *const packets = static_cast<Packet *>(malloc(MPKTS * sizeof(Packet)));
+  auto *const packets = static_cast<Packet *>(malloc(globals::npkts * sizeof(Packet)));
 
   assert_always(packets != nullptr);
 
@@ -965,7 +965,7 @@ auto main(int argc, char *argv[]) -> int {
   printout("Simulation propagates %g packets per process (total %g with nprocs %d)\n", 1. * globals::npkts,
            1. * globals::npkts * globals::nprocs, globals::nprocs);
 
-  printout("[info] mem_usage: packets occupy %.3f MB\n", MPKTS * sizeof(Packet) / 1024. / 1024.);
+  printout("[info] mem_usage: packets occupy %.3f MB\n", globals::npkts * sizeof(Packet) / 1024. / 1024.);
 
   if (!globals::simulation_continued_from_saved) {
     std::remove("deposition.out");