diff --git a/R/create.R b/R/create.R
index 97ae12fda..446336c37 100644
--- a/R/create.R
+++ b/R/create.R
@@ -263,7 +263,8 @@ create_rt_data <- function(rt = rt_opts(), breakpoints = NULL,
     breakpoints = breakpoints,
     future_fixed =  as.numeric(future_rt$fixed),
     fixed_from = future_rt$from,
-    use_pop = as.integer(rt$pop != Fixed(0)) + as.integer(rt$estimate_pop),
+    use_pop =
+      as.integer(rt$pop != Fixed(0)) + as.integer(rt$pop_period == "all"),
     stationary =  as.numeric(rt$gp_on == "R0"),
     future_time = horizon - future_rt$from
   )
diff --git a/R/opts.R b/R/opts.R
index a37b3a63e..8c63589ab 100644
--- a/R/opts.R
+++ b/R/opts.R
@@ -411,7 +411,6 @@ rt_opts <- function(prior = LogNormal(mean = 1, sd = 1),
       )
     )
   }
-  rt$estimate_pop <- TRUE
 
   if (rt$use_rt) {
     rt$prior <- prior