diff --git a/src/usr/isteps/expupd/expupd.C b/src/usr/isteps/expupd/expupd.C
index 6a5f4cbddd3..f85f7069765 100644
--- a/src/usr/isteps/expupd/expupd.C
+++ b/src/usr/isteps/expupd/expupd.C
@@ -36,11 +36,13 @@
 #include <fapi2/hw_access.H>
 #include <chipids.H>
 #include <trace/interface.H>
+#include <util/misc.H>
 #include <hbotcompid.H>
 #include "ocmbFwImage.H"
 #include <exp_fw_update.H>
 #include <initservice/istepdispatcherif.H>
 
+
 using namespace ISTEP_ERROR;
 using namespace ERRORLOG;
 using namespace TARGETING;
@@ -154,6 +156,12 @@ void updateAll(IStepError& o_stepError)
         auto l_forced_behavior =
             l_pTopLevel->getAttr<TARGETING::ATTR_OCMB_FW_UPDATE_OVERRIDE>();
 
+        if ( Util::isSimicsRunning() )
+        {
+            TRACFCOMP(g_trac_expupd, INFO_MRK "Simics running so just do the version check");
+            l_forced_behavior = TARGETING::OCMB_FW_UPDATE_BEHAVIOR_CHECK_BUT_NO_UPDATE;
+        }
+
         // Exit now if told to
         if( TARGETING::OCMB_FW_UPDATE_BEHAVIOR_PREVENT_UPDATE
             == l_forced_behavior )
diff --git a/src/usr/targeting/common/xmltohb/attribute_types.xml b/src/usr/targeting/common/xmltohb/attribute_types.xml
index 9da11452079..921417085a2 100644
--- a/src/usr/targeting/common/xmltohb/attribute_types.xml
+++ b/src/usr/targeting/common/xmltohb/attribute_types.xml
@@ -5592,15 +5592,12 @@
        Force specific behavior for the OCMB Firmware update function.
     </description>
     <id>OCMB_FW_UPDATE_OVERRIDE</id>
-    <!-- @fixme-RTC:244420-Should be volatile-zero -->
-    <persistency>volatile</persistency>
+    <persistency>volatile-zeroed</persistency>
     <readable/>
     <simpleType>
-      <uint8_t>
-        <!-- Cannot use enumeration directly due to override issue -->
-        <default>2</default>
-      </uint8_t>
+      <uint8_t/>
     </simpleType>
+    <no_export/>
   </attribute>
 
   <attribute>