diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index ca2984e0..7b04823e 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 
 ## latest
 
+- Fixed load balancing configuration `partitioning` parameter setting [#245](https://github.com/precice/micro-manager/pull/245)
 - Fixed comparison of zero values of type float32 and float64 in simulation deactivation [#244](https://github.com/precice/micro-manager/pull/244)
 - Optimized norm calculations and further fixed lazy initialization [#241](https://github.com/precice/micro-manager/pull/241)
 - Fixed lazy initialization for ranks without (active) micro simulations [#238](https://github.com/precice/micro-manager/pull/238)
diff --git a/micro_manager/config.py b/micro_manager/config.py
index 1470bf4b..b59966d3 100644
--- a/micro_manager/config.py
+++ b/micro_manager/config.py
@@ -459,16 +459,6 @@ def read_json_micro_manager(self):
                 + " time windows."
             )
 
-            try:
-                self._load_balancing_partitioning = self._data["simulation_params"][
-                    "load_balancing_settings"
-                ]["partitioning"]
-            except BaseException:
-                self._logger.log_info_rank_zero(
-                    "Micro Manager will not load balance. Must provide partitioning type."
-                )
-                self._load_balancing = False
-
             try:
                 self._load_balancing_type = self._data["simulation_params"][
                     "load_balancing_settings"
@@ -515,6 +505,17 @@ def read_json_micro_manager(self):
                         'Load balancing is not using active simulation balancing. Field "balance_inactive_sims" will be ignored.'
                     )
 
+            if self._load_balancing_type == "time":
+                try:
+                    self._load_balancing_partitioning = self._data["simulation_params"][
+                        "load_balancing_settings"
+                    ]["partitioning"]
+                except BaseException:
+                    self._logger.log_info_rank_zero(
+                        "Partitioning type must be provided for time based load balancing. Defaulting to 'lpt'."
+                    )
+                    self._load_balancing_partitioning = "lpt"
+
         try:
             if self._data["simulation_params"]["model_adaptivity"]:
                 self._m_adap = True