diff --git a/src/ini_parser.f90 b/src/ini_parser.f90
index 0e15a70..6eb725a 100644
--- a/src/ini_parser.f90
+++ b/src/ini_parser.f90
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ contains
 
     ! open the INI file
     ini = get_free_unit()
-    open(unit=ini, file=filepath, iostat=error)
+    open(unit=ini, file=filepath, action='read', iostat=error)
     if (error /= 0) then
       write (msg, '("failed to open INI file: ", a)') filepath
       call log_error(msg, proc='parse_ini', mod='ini_parser')