diff --git a/bob/pad/face/database/casiasurf.py b/bob/pad/face/database/casiasurf.py
index 5b936476af1c8f470700be3f6fce7fbcfc8898d7..f0dd328b0cd457e6a182931d5380082a0de4ba77 100644
--- a/bob/pad/face/database/casiasurf.py
+++ b/bob/pad/face/database/casiasurf.py
@@ -103,7 +103,7 @@ class CasiaSurfPadDatabase(PadDatabase):
 
     """
        
-    def __init__(self, protocol='all', original_directory=None, original_extension='.jpg', **kwargs):
+    def __init__(self, protocol='all', original_directory=rc['bob.db.casiasurf.directory'], original_extension='.jpg', **kwargs):
       """Init function
 
         Parameters