diff --git a/micro_manager/micro_manager.py b/micro_manager/micro_manager.py
index 5d7089df..938237b3 100644
--- a/micro_manager/micro_manager.py
+++ b/micro_manager/micro_manager.py
@@ -173,6 +173,9 @@ def solve(self) -> None:
                 )
 
         while self._participant.is_coupling_ongoing():
+
+            self._dt = self._participant.get_max_time_step_size()  # ask preCICE at beginning of time step for allowed time step size
+
             # Write a checkpoint
             if self._participant.requires_writing_checkpoint():
                 for i in range(self._local_number_of_sims):
@@ -256,11 +259,9 @@ def solve(self) -> None:
 
             self._write_data_to_precice(micro_sims_output)
 
-            self._participant.advance(self._dt)
-            self._dt = self._participant.get_max_time_step_size()
-
-            t += self._dt
-            n += 1
+            t += self._dt  # increase internal time when time step is done.
+            n += 1  # increase counter
+            self._participant.advance(self._dt)  # notify preCICE that time step of size self._dt is complete
 
             # Revert micro simulations to their last checkpoints if required
             if self._participant.requires_reading_checkpoint():