diff --git a/PyLoT.py b/PyLoT.py
index 71e63d14..775f888b 100755
--- a/PyLoT.py
+++ b/PyLoT.py
@@ -111,7 +111,7 @@ class MainWindow(QMainWindow):
     __version__ = _getVersionString()
     closing = Signal()
 
-    def __init__(self, parent=None, infile=None):
+    def __init__(self, parent=None, infile=None, reset_qsettings=False):
         super(MainWindow, self).__init__(parent)
 
         self.init_config_files(infile)
@@ -152,6 +152,8 @@ class MainWindow(QMainWindow):
         self.createAction = createAction
         # read settings
         settings = QSettings()
+        if reset_qsettings:
+            settings.clear()
         self.recentfiles = settings.value("data/recentEvents", [])
         self.dispComponent = str(settings.value("plotting/dispComponent", "Z"))
 
@@ -3909,6 +3911,7 @@ def main(args=None):
             project_filename = args.project_filename
         if args.input_filename:
             pylot_infile = args.input_filename
+        reset_qsettings = args.reset_qsettings
 
     # create the Qt application
     pylot_app, app_created = create_window()
@@ -3921,7 +3924,7 @@ def main(args=None):
     app_icon.addPixmap(QPixmap(':/icons/pylot.png'))
 
     # create the main window
-    pylot_form = MainWindow(infile=pylot_infile)
+    pylot_form = MainWindow(infile=pylot_infile, reset_qsettings=reset_qsettings)
     pylot_form.setWindowIcon(app_icon)
     pylot_form.setIconSize(QSize(60, 60))
 
@@ -3954,5 +3957,7 @@ if __name__ == "__main__":
                         default=None)
     parser.add_argument('-in', dest='input_filename', help='set pylot input file',
                         default=None)
+    parser.add_argument('--reset_qsettings', default=False, action='store_true',
+                        help='reset qsettings (debug option)')
     args = parser.parse_args()
     sys.exit(main(args))
diff --git a/pylot/core/util/widgets.py b/pylot/core/util/widgets.py
index 6c8dde50..d65bd29e 100644
--- a/pylot/core/util/widgets.py
+++ b/pylot/core/util/widgets.py
@@ -4615,7 +4615,7 @@ class InputsTab(PropTab):
         for spinbox in [self.tstartBox, self.tstopBox]:
             spinbox.setRange(-99999, 99999)
         self.tstartBox.setValue(float(settings.value('tstart')) if get_None(settings.value('tstart')) else 0)
-        self.tstopBox.setValue(float(settings.value('tstop')) if get_None(settings.value('tstop')) else 0)
+        self.tstopBox.setValue(float(settings.value('tstop')) if get_None(settings.value('tstop')) else 1e6)
         self.cuttimesLayout.addWidget(self.tstartBox, 10)
         self.cuttimesLayout.addWidget(QLabel('[s] and'), 0)
         self.cuttimesLayout.addWidget(self.tstopBox, 10)
@@ -4685,7 +4685,7 @@ class InputsTab(PropTab):
                   "user/FullName": self.fullNameEdit.text(),
                   "data/Structure": self.structureSelect.setCurrentIndex(index),
                   "tstart": self.tstartBox.setValue(0),
-                  "tstop": self.tstopBox.setValue(10000.),
+                  "tstop": self.tstopBox.setValue(1e6),
                   "autosaveXML": self.autosaveXML_checkbox.setChecked(True),}
         return values