diff --git a/sources/evolution.F90 b/sources/evolution.F90
index 6f02e67..a847cf5 100644
--- a/sources/evolution.F90
+++ b/sources/evolution.F90
@@ -1088,34 +1088,38 @@ module evolution
 !
   subroutine advance(status)
 
-! references
-!
+    use blocks     , only : set_blocks_update
     use coordinates, only : toplev
     use forcing    , only : update_forcing, forcing_enabled
     use mesh       , only : update_mesh
 
-! local variables are not implicit by default
-!
     implicit none
 
-! input variables
-!
     integer, intent(out) :: status
-!
+
 !-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 !
 ! advance the solution using the selected method
 !
     call evolve()
 
-! add forcing contribution
+! add forcing contribution, requires the boundary and primitive variable update
 !
-    if (forcing_enabled) call update_forcing(time, dt)
+    if (forcing_enabled) then
+      call update_forcing(time, dt)
+
+      call update_variables(time + dt, 0.0d+00, status)
+      if (status /= 0) go to 100
+    end if
 
 ! check if we need to perform the refinement step
 !
     if (toplev > 1) then
 
+! set all meta blocks to not be updated
+!
+      call set_blocks_update(.false.)
+
 ! check refinement and refine
 !
       call update_mesh(status)
@@ -1126,6 +1130,10 @@ module evolution
       call update_variables(time + dt, 0.0d+00, status)
       if (status /= 0) go to 100
 
+! set all meta blocks to be updated
+!
+      call set_blocks_update(.true.)
+
     end if ! toplev > 1
 
 ! error entry point