diff --git a/pyro/mesh/tests/test_io.py b/pyro/mesh/tests/test_io.py
index 1c8eba265..e26c980cb 100644
--- a/pyro/mesh/tests/test_io.py
+++ b/pyro/mesh/tests/test_io.py
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 
 import pyro.mesh.boundary as bnd
 import pyro.util.io_pyro as io
+from pyro import Pyro
 from pyro.mesh import patch
 
 
@@ -28,3 +29,17 @@ def test_write_read():
     anew = nd.get_var("a")
 
     assert_array_equal(anew.v(), a.v())
+
+
+def test_simulation_step_count_round_trip(tmp_path, monkeypatch):
+    """Variable-name iteration must not overwrite the saved step counter."""
+    monkeypatch.chdir(tmp_path)
+    p = Pyro("advection")
+    p.initialize_problem("test", inputs_dict={"mesh.nx": 8, "mesh.ny": 8,
+        "driver.max_steps": 3, "io.force_final_output": 0})
+    p.run_sim()
+    p.sim.write("checkpoint")
+    restored = io.read("checkpoint")
+    assert restored.n == 3
+    assert restored.cc_data.t == p.sim.cc_data.t
+    assert_array_equal(restored.cc_data.get_var("density").v(), p.sim.cc_data.get_var("density").v())
diff --git a/pyro/util/io_pyro.py b/pyro/util/io_pyro.py
index 37f263cec..f2901c350 100644
--- a/pyro/util/io_pyro.py
+++ b/pyro/util/io_pyro.py
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ def read(filename):
             solver_name = f.attrs["solver"]
             problem_name = f.attrs["problem"]
             t = f.attrs["time"]
-            n = f.attrs["nsteps"]
+            nsteps = f.attrs["nsteps"]
         except KeyError:
             # this was just a patch written out
             solver_name = None
@@ -120,7 +120,7 @@ def read(filename):
             solver = importlib.import_module(f"pyro.{solver_name}")
 
             sim = solver.Simulation(solver_name, problem_name, None, None)
-            sim.n = n
+            sim.n = nsteps
             sim.cc_data = myd
             sim.cc_data.t = t
             sim.particles = my_particles