diff --git a/python/converters/vasp/python/inpconf.py b/python/converters/vasp/python/inpconf.py
index c783261b..7713d18b 100644
--- a/python/converters/vasp/python/inpconf.py
+++ b/python/converters/vasp/python/inpconf.py
@@ -65,9 +65,8 @@ class ConfigParameters:
             'emax': ('emax', float)}
 
         self.gr_optional = {
-            'normalize' : ('normalize', self.parse_string_logical),
-            'normion' : ('normion', self.parse_string_logical)}
-
+            'normalize' : ('normalize', self.parse_string_logical, True),
+            'normion' : ('normion', self.parse_string_logical, False)}
 
 
 #
@@ -168,13 +167,14 @@ class ConfigParameters:
 # parse_parameter_set()
 #
 ################################################################################
-    def parse_parameter_set(self, section, param_set, exception=False):
+    def parse_parameter_set(self, section, param_set, exception=False, defaults=True):
         """
         Parses required or optional parameter set from a section.
         For required parameters `exception=True` must be set.
         """
         parsed = {}
         for par in param_set.keys():
+            key = param_set[par][0]
             try:
                 par_str = self.cp.get(section, par)
             except ConfigParser.NoOptionError:
@@ -182,12 +182,14 @@ class ConfigParameters:
                     message = "Required parameter '%s' not found in section [%s]"%(par, section)
                     raise Exception(message)
                 else:
+# Use the default value if there is one
+                    if defaults and len(param_set[par]) > 2:
+                        parsed[key] = param_set[par][2]
                     continue
 
             if self.verbosity > 0:
                 print "  %s = %s"%(par, par_str)
 
-            key = param_set[par][0]
             parse_fun = param_set[par][1]
             parsed[key] = parse_fun(par_str)
 
@@ -267,7 +269,7 @@ class ConfigParameters:
             shell.update(parsed)
 
 # Group optional parameters
-            parsed = self.parse_parameter_set(section, self.gr_optional, exception=False)
+            parsed = self.parse_parameter_set(section, self.gr_optional, exception=False, defaults=False)
             shell.update(parsed)
 
             self.shells.append(shell)
diff --git a/python/converters/vasp/test/inpconf/test_groups.py b/python/converters/vasp/test/inpconf/test_groups.py
index 6c36e420..ed3f209d 100644
--- a/python/converters/vasp/test/inpconf/test_groups.py
+++ b/python/converters/vasp/test/inpconf/test_groups.py
@@ -34,8 +34,10 @@ class TestParseGroups(arraytest.ArrayTestCase):
         conf_pars = ConfigParameters('example.cfg')
         conf_pars.parse_groups()
         res = conf_pars.groups
-        expected = [{'index': 1, 'shells': [1, 2], 'emin': -7.6, 'emax': 3.0},
-                    {'index': 2, 'shells': [3], 'emin': -1.6, 'emax': 2.0}]
+        expected = [{'index': 1, 'shells': [1, 2], 'emin': -7.6, 'emax': 3.0, 
+                     'normalize': True, 'normion': False},
+                    {'index': 2, 'shells': [3], 'emin': -1.6, 'emax': 2.0,
+                     'normalize': True, 'normion': False}]
         self.assertListEqual(res, expected)
 
 
diff --git a/python/converters/vasp/test/inpconf/test_input.py b/python/converters/vasp/test/inpconf/test_input.py
index f1311aa1..46b5507f 100644
--- a/python/converters/vasp/test/inpconf/test_input.py
+++ b/python/converters/vasp/test/inpconf/test_input.py
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ class TestParseInput(arraytest.ArrayTestCase):
        [ 0.,  0.,  1.]]), 'ion_list': array([0, 1, 2, 3]), 'user_index': 2, 'lshell': 1}, {'ion_list': array([0, 1, 2, 3]), 'user_index': 3, 'lshell': 3}]
 
 Groups:
-[{'index': 1, 'shells': [0, 1], 'emin': -7.6, 'emax': 3.0}, {'index': 2, 'shells': [2], 'emin': -1.6, 'emax': 2.0}]"""
+[{'normalize': True, 'index': 1, 'shells': [0, 1], 'normion': False, 'emax': 3.0, 'emin': -7.6}, {'normalize': True, 'index': 2, 'shells': [2], 'normion': False, 'emax': 2.0, 'emin': -1.6}]"""
 
         self.assertEqual(res, expected)