diff --git a/templates/nml_preprocessor.py b/templates/nml_preprocessor.py
index 41b03d75..2e809012 100644
--- a/templates/nml_preprocessor.py
+++ b/templates/nml_preprocessor.py
@@ -109,7 +109,7 @@ def handle_alternates(line):
     # define alternate comment strings
     comment_alternate = ["#ez ", "#32 "]
 
-    settings_alternate = [high_bitdepth, extra_zoom]
+    settings_alternate = [extra_zoom, high_bitdepth]
     for c in range(len(comment_alternate)):
       comment = comment_alternate[c]
       if comment in line: