diff --git a/src/cfg.c b/src/cfg.c
index f6b9b665..fcecc585 100644
--- a/src/cfg.c
+++ b/src/cfg.c
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ int kvz_config_init(kvz_config *cfg)
   cfg->vui.chroma_loc  = 0; /* left center */
   cfg->aud_enable      = 0;
   cfg->cqmfile         = NULL;
-  cfg->ref_frames      = DEFAULT_REF_PIC_COUNT;
+  cfg->ref_frames      = 1;
   cfg->gop_len         = 4;
   cfg->gop_lowdelay    = true;
   cfg->bipred          = 0;
diff --git a/src/global.h b/src/global.h
index 06f9dfb6..263359dd 100644
--- a/src/global.h
+++ b/src/global.h
@@ -151,7 +151,6 @@ typedef int16_t coeff_t;
 #define LCU_CHROMA_SIZE (LCU_WIDTH * LCU_WIDTH >> 2)
 
 #define MAX_REF_PIC_COUNT 16
-#define DEFAULT_REF_PIC_COUNT 3
 
 #define AMVP_MAX_NUM_CANDS 2
 #define AMVP_MAX_NUM_CANDS_MEM 3