diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwworld/scene.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwworld/scene.cpp
index 8029cb773..13e6593e5 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwworld/scene.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwworld/scene.cpp
@@ -327,7 +327,7 @@ namespace MWWorld
         std::string loadingExteriorText = "#{sLoadingMessage3}";
         loadingListener->setLabel(loadingExteriorText);
 
-        const int halfGridSize = Settings::Manager::getInt("exterior grid size", "Cells")/2;
+        const int halfGridSize = Settings::Manager::getInt("exterior cell load distance", "Cells");
 
         CellStoreCollection::iterator active = mActiveCells.begin();
         while (active!=mActiveCells.end())
diff --git a/files/settings-default.cfg b/files/settings-default.cfg
index dcb9b8893..0f7349eb9 100644
--- a/files/settings-default.cfg
+++ b/files/settings-default.cfg
@@ -101,7 +101,7 @@ local map widget size = 512
 local map hud widget size = 256
 
 [Cells]
-exterior grid size = 3
+exterior cell load distance = 1
 
 [Camera]
 near clip = 5