diff --git a/pipeline/datasets/example_simulation.py b/pipeline/datasets/example_simulation.py
index f452a47..65175b5 100644
--- a/pipeline/datasets/example_simulation.py
+++ b/pipeline/datasets/example_simulation.py
@@ -103,7 +103,7 @@ doSubSamplingInPrep = False
 
 # if 'absolute', subSamples are given in particles per cubic Mpc/h
 # if 'relative', subSamples are given as a fraction of input particles
-subSampleMode = "absolute"
+subSampleMode = "relative"
 
 # shift the z-coord of sims with redshift
 shiftSimZ = False