diff --git a/src/lib/frontend/d_state_option.ml b/src/lib/frontend/d_state_option.ml
index 20014abdf7..3c5d807c7d 100644
--- a/src/lib/frontend/d_state_option.ml
+++ b/src/lib/frontend/d_state_option.ml
@@ -128,7 +128,7 @@ module SatSolver = (val msatsolver)
 
 let msteps =
   let on_update _ sat st = Steps.set_steps_bound sat; st in
-  (create_opt ~on_update "steps_bound" O.get_steps_bound)
+  (create_opt_only_start_mode ~on_update "steps_bound" O.get_steps_bound)
 
 module Steps = (val msteps)
 
diff --git a/tests/dune.inc b/tests/dune.inc
index fbfb009573..d655d635b8 100644
--- a/tests/dune.inc
+++ b/tests/dune.inc
@@ -204314,8 +204314,8 @@
 ; Auto-generated part begin
 (subdir smtlib
   (rule
-   (target testfile-steps-bound.dolmen_dolmen.output)
-   (deps (:input testfile-steps-bound.dolmen.smt2))
+   (target testfile-steps-bound2.dolmen_dolmen.output)
+   (deps (:input testfile-steps-bound2.dolmen.smt2))
    (package alt-ergo)
    (action
     (chdir %{workspace_root}
@@ -204329,11 +204329,32 @@
              --frontend dolmen
              %{input})))))))
   (rule
-   (deps testfile-steps-bound.dolmen_dolmen.output)
+   (deps testfile-steps-bound2.dolmen_dolmen.output)
     (alias runtest-quick)
      (package alt-ergo)
       (action
-       (diff testfile-steps-bound.dolmen.expected testfile-steps-bound.dolmen_dolmen.output)))
+       (diff testfile-steps-bound2.dolmen.expected testfile-steps-bound2.dolmen_dolmen.output)))
+  (rule
+   (target testfile-steps-bound1.dolmen.err_dolmen.output)
+   (deps (:input testfile-steps-bound1.dolmen.err.smt2))
+   (package alt-ergo)
+   (action
+    (chdir %{workspace_root}
+     (with-stdout-to %{target}
+      (ignore-stderr
+       (with-accepted-exit-codes (or 1)
+        (run %{bin:alt-ergo}
+             --timelimit=2
+             --enable-assertions
+             --output=smtlib2
+             --frontend dolmen
+             %{input})))))))
+  (rule
+   (deps testfile-steps-bound1.dolmen.err_dolmen.output)
+    (alias runtest-quick)
+     (package alt-ergo)
+      (action
+       (diff testfile-steps-bound1.dolmen.err.expected testfile-steps-bound1.dolmen.err_dolmen.output)))
   (rule
    (target testfile-reset_ci_cdcl_no_minimal_bj.output)
    (deps (:input testfile-reset.smt2))
diff --git a/tests/smtlib/testfile-steps-bound.dolmen.smt2 b/tests/smtlib/testfile-steps-bound.dolmen.smt2
deleted file mode 100644
index ed9711b987..0000000000
--- a/tests/smtlib/testfile-steps-bound.dolmen.smt2
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,26 +0,0 @@
-(set-logic ALL)
-
-(declare-const x Int)
-(declare-const y Int)
-(assert (= (* x x) 3))
-
-(push 1)
-; Setting this option here should fail because the previous assertion takes
-; more than 2 steps. It does not because AE does not execute SMTLIB instruction
-; imperatively; here, the option is actually set before the assertion is
-; executed.
-(set-option :steps-bound 2)
-; Should answer 'unknown'
-(check-sat)
-(get-info :reason-unknown)
-(pop 1)
-
-(reset)
-
-(set-logic ALL)
-(declare-const x Int)
-(declare-const y Int)
-(set-option :steps-bound 100)
-; Should answer 'unsat'
-(assert (= (* x x) 3))
-(check-sat)
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/tests/smtlib/testfile-steps-bound1.dolmen.err.expected b/tests/smtlib/testfile-steps-bound1.dolmen.err.expected
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..90f9e3c816
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/smtlib/testfile-steps-bound1.dolmen.err.expected
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+(error "Invalid action during mode Util.Assert: Set option steps_bound")
diff --git a/tests/smtlib/testfile-steps-bound1.dolmen.err.smt2 b/tests/smtlib/testfile-steps-bound1.dolmen.err.smt2
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..2da3ac5d7f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/smtlib/testfile-steps-bound1.dolmen.err.smt2
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+(set-logic ALL)
+
+(declare-const x Int)
+(assert (= (* x x) 3))
+(set-option :steps-bound 2)
+; Should fail because this option cannot be set after set-logic
+(check-sat)
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/tests/smtlib/testfile-steps-bound.dolmen.expected b/tests/smtlib/testfile-steps-bound2.dolmen.expected
similarity index 100%
rename from tests/smtlib/testfile-steps-bound.dolmen.expected
rename to tests/smtlib/testfile-steps-bound2.dolmen.expected
diff --git a/tests/smtlib/testfile-steps-bound2.dolmen.smt2 b/tests/smtlib/testfile-steps-bound2.dolmen.smt2
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..3d578cf450
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/smtlib/testfile-steps-bound2.dolmen.smt2
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+(set-option :steps-bound 2)
+(set-logic ALL)
+
+(declare-const x Int)
+(assert (= (* x x) 3))
+; Should answer 'unknown'
+(check-sat)
+(get-info :reason-unknown)
+
+(reset)
+
+(set-option :steps-bound 100)
+(set-logic ALL)
+(declare-const x Int)
+(assert (= (* x x) 3))
+; Should answer 'unsat'
+(check-sat)
\ No newline at end of file