diff --git a/pyart/aux_io/odim_h5.py b/pyart/aux_io/odim_h5.py
index 602547633..3944b5fa6 100644
--- a/pyart/aux_io/odim_h5.py
+++ b/pyart/aux_io/odim_h5.py
@@ -259,7 +259,7 @@ def read_odim_grid_h5(
     nodata=np.nan,
     undetect=np.nan,
     use_file_conversion=True,
-    time_ref="start",
+    time_ref="end",
     **kwargs,
 ):
     """
diff --git a/tests/aux_io/test_odim_grid_h5.py b/tests/aux_io/test_odim_grid_h5.py
index 0d6f6ac66..1cec9c12b 100644
--- a/tests/aux_io/test_odim_grid_h5.py
+++ b/tests/aux_io/test_odim_grid_h5.py
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@
 #####################################################
 
 # read in the sample file and create a a grid object
-grid = pyart.aux_io.read_odim_grid_h5(pyart.testing.ODIM_H5_GRID_FILE)
+grid = pyart.aux_io.read_odim_grid_h5(pyart.testing.ODIM_H5_GRID_FILE, time_ref="start")
 
 
 # time attribute