diff --git a/gbso/optimize.py b/gbso/optimize.py
index 769f33f..309137b 100644
--- a/gbso/optimize.py
+++ b/gbso/optimize.py
@@ -10,8 +10,10 @@ from gbso.program.program import Program
 EPSILON = 0.00001
 
 DEFAULT_ANNEALING_CONSTANT = 0.5
-DEFAULT_SYNTHESIS_ITERS = 0
 DEFAULT_OPTIMIZE_ITERS = 5_000_000
+
+# By default, we set synthesis iters = 0 and num candidates = 1 to skip synthesis
+DEFAULT_SYNTHESIS_ITERS = 0
 DEFAULT_NUM_CANDIDATES = 1
 
 DEFAULT_PROB_OPCODE = 0.25