diff --git a/src/gray_params.f90 b/src/gray_params.f90
index ea76ff6..afafcae 100644
--- a/src/gray_params.f90
+++ b/src/gray_params.f90
@@ -387,14 +387,14 @@ contains
     character(len=max_name_size) :: provided(max_lines), name
 
     ! parse the configuration
-    count = 1
+    count = 0
     call parse_ini(filename, ini_handler, err)
     if (err /= ERR_SUCCESS) return
 
     ! check if all mandatory parameters were given
     do i = 1, size(mandatory)
       name = mandatory(i)
-      if (findloc(provided, trim(name), count) /= 0) cycle
+      if (any(provided(1:count)==trim(name))) cycle
       call log_error('mandatory parameter `'//trim(name)//'` is missing!', &
                      mod='gray_params', proc='read_gray_config')
       err = 1
@@ -415,8 +415,8 @@ contains
         err = update_parameter(params, section // "." // name, value)
 
         ! store the parameter name
-        provided(count) = section // "." // name
         count = count + 1
+        provided(count) = section // "." // name
       end function ini_handler
 
   end subroutine read_gray_config