diff --git a/bin/inference/pycbc_inference_plot_posterior b/bin/inference/pycbc_inference_plot_posterior
index c691665c49a..6154ebe1f05 100644
--- a/bin/inference/pycbc_inference_plot_posterior
+++ b/bin/inference/pycbc_inference_plot_posterior
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ from pycbc.results.scatter_histograms import create_multidim_plot
 use('agg')
 
 # add options to command line
-parser = io.ResultsArgumentParser()
+parser = io.ResultsArgumentParser(defaultparams='samples')
 pycbc.add_common_pycbc_options(parser)
 # program-specific
 parser.add_argument("--output-file", type=str, required=True,
@@ -60,13 +60,18 @@ parser.add_argument("--prior-nsamples", type=int, default=10000,
                     help="The number of samples to use for plotting the "
                          "prior. Default is 10000.")
 parser.add_argument("--colors-multi-run", nargs="+", type=str,
-                    help="For multiple runs, provide colours to be used for successively. Default setting is to use the successive colours specified in matplotlib color cycle.")
+                    help="For multiple runs, provide colours to be used for "
+                         "successively. Default setting is to use the "
+                         "successive colours specified in matplotlib color "
+                         "cycle.")
 parser.add_argument("--fill-hist", action="store_true", default=False,
                     help="Fill the 1D marginalized histograms")
 parser.add_argument("--hist-color", 
-                    help="Provide color for histogram outline. Default is black")
+                    help="Provide color for histogram outline. Default is "
+                         "black")
 parser.add_argument("--hist-fill-color", default='gray',
-                    help="Provide the fill_color for filled histograms. Default is gray")
+                    help="Provide the fill_color for filled histograms. "
+                    "Default is gray")
 # add options for what plots to create
 option_utils.add_plot_posterior_option_group(parser)
 # scatter configuration
diff --git a/pycbc/inference/io/__init__.py b/pycbc/inference/io/__init__.py
index 23df1697631..10ee21dbf94 100644
--- a/pycbc/inference/io/__init__.py
+++ b/pycbc/inference/io/__init__.py
@@ -446,11 +446,13 @@ class ResultsArgumentParser(argparse.ArgumentParser):
         to not be included. May also specify sampler-specific arguments. Note
         that ``input-file``, ``file-help``, and ``parameters`` are always
         added.
-    defaultparams : {'variable_params', 'all'}, optional
+    defaultparams : {'variable_params', 'samples', 'all'}, optional
         If no ``--parameters`` provided, which collection of parameters to
-        load. If 'all' will load all parameters in the file's
-        ``samples_group``. If 'variable_params' or None (the default) will load
-        the variable parameters.
+        load. If 'samples' will load all parameters in the file's
+        ``samples_group``, excluding likelihood stats (i.e. loglikelihood,
+        logwt). If 'all' will load all parameters in the file's
+        ``samples_group`` including likelihood stats. If 'variable_params' or 
+        None (the default) will load the variable parameters.
     autoparamlabels : bool, optional
         Passed to ``add_results_option_group``; see that function for details.
     \**kwargs :
@@ -462,11 +464,15 @@ def __init__(self, skip_args=None, defaultparams=None,
         # add attribute to communicate to arguments what to do when there is
         # no input files
         self.no_input_file_err = False
+        self.skip_params = []
         if skip_args is None:
             skip_args = []
         self.skip_args = skip_args
         if defaultparams is None:
             defaultparams = 'variable_params'
+        if defaultparams == 'samples':
+            defaultparams = 'all'
+            self.skip_params = ['loglikelihood', 'logwt']
         self.defaultparams = defaultparams
         # add the results option grup
         self.add_results_option_group(autoparamlabels=autoparamlabels)
@@ -510,6 +516,7 @@ def parse_known_args(self, args=None, namespace=None):
         if opts.parameters is None or opts.parameters == ['*']:
             parameters = get_common_parameters(opts.input_file,
                                                collection=self.defaultparams)
+            parameters = [i for i in parameters if i not in self.skip_params]
             # now call parse parameters action to re-populate the namespace
             self.actions['parameters'](self, opts, parameters)
         # check if we're being greedy or not
@@ -526,7 +533,8 @@ def parse_known_args(self, args=None, namespace=None):
             add_params = set(all_params) - set(used_params)
             # repopulate the name space with the additional parameters
             if add_params:
-                opts.parameters += list(add_params)
+                add_params = [i for i in add_params if i not in self.skip_params]
+                opts.parameters += add_params
                 # update the labels
                 opts.parameters_labels.update({p: p for p in add_params})
         # parse the sampler-specific options and check for any unknowns