diff --git a/saltproc/abc.py b/saltproc/abc.py
index 5149e0dd1..b179143c7 100644
--- a/saltproc/abc.py
+++ b/saltproc/abc.py
@@ -15,6 +15,8 @@ class Depcode(ABC):
     step_metadata : dict of str to type
         Holds depletion code depletion step metadata. Metadata labels are keys
         and metadata values are values.
+    exec_path : str
+        Path to depletion code executable.
     runtime_inputfile : str
         Path to input file used to run depletion step.
     runtime_matfile : str
@@ -25,7 +27,6 @@ class Depcode(ABC):
 
     def __init__(self,
                  codename,
-                 exec_path,
                  template_input_file_path,
                  geo_files=None,
                  npop=50,
@@ -37,8 +38,6 @@ def __init__(self,
            ----------
            codename : str
                Name of depletion code.
-           exec_path : str
-               Path to depletion code executable.
            template_input_file_path : str or dict of str to str
                Path(s) to depletion code input file(s), or a dictionary where
                the input type (e.g. material, geometry, settings, etc.) as a
@@ -57,7 +56,6 @@ def __init__(self,
 
         """
         self.codename = codename
-        self.exec_path = exec_path
         self.template_input_file_path = template_input_file_path
         self.geo_files = geo_files
         self.npop = npop
diff --git a/saltproc/app.py b/saltproc/app.py
index 236c4bcd1..450ba692e 100644
--- a/saltproc/app.py
+++ b/saltproc/app.py
@@ -247,12 +247,13 @@ def _create_depcode_object(depcode_input):
         raise ValueError(
             f'{depcode_input["codename"]} is not a supported depletion code')
 
-    depcode = depcode(depcode_input['exec_path'],
-                      depcode_input['template_input_file_path'],
+    depcode = depcode(depcode_input['template_input_file_path'],
                       geo_files=depcode_input['geo_file_paths'],
                       npop=depcode_input['npop'],
                       active_cycles=depcode_input['active_cycles'],
                       inactive_cycles=depcode_input['inactive_cycles'])
+    if codename != 'openmc':
+        depcode.exec_path = depcode_input['exec_path']
 
     return depcode
 
diff --git a/saltproc/input_schema.json b/saltproc/input_schema.json
index 78cefd81f..b4540e6db 100644
--- a/saltproc/input_schema.json
+++ b/saltproc/input_schema.json
@@ -63,6 +63,9 @@
                     },
                     "then": {
                         "properties": {
+                            "exec_path": {
+                                "description": "Path to depletion code executable",
+                                "type": "string" },
                             "template_input_file_path": {
                                 "description": "Path to Serpent template inputfile",
                                 "type": "string",
diff --git a/saltproc/openmc_depcode.py b/saltproc/openmc_depcode.py
index e5063ba82..155fdc27d 100644
--- a/saltproc/openmc_depcode.py
+++ b/saltproc/openmc_depcode.py
@@ -26,6 +26,8 @@ class OpenMCDepcode(Depcode):
     step_metadata : dict of str to type
         Holds OpenMC depletion step metadata. Metadata labels are keys
         and metadata values are values.
+    exec_path : str
+        Path to OpenMC depletion script.
     runtime_inputfile : dict of str to str
         Paths to OpenMC input files used to run depletion step. Contains neutron
         settings and geometry.
@@ -36,7 +38,6 @@ class OpenMCDepcode(Depcode):
     """
 
     def __init__(self,
-                 exec_path="openmc_deplete.py",
                  template_input_file_path={"geometry": "./geometry.xml",
                                            "settings": "./settings.xml",
                                            "chain_file": "./chain_simple.xml"},
@@ -48,8 +49,6 @@ def __init__(self,
 
            Parameters
            ----------
-           exec_path : str
-               Path to OpenMC depletion script.
            template_input_file_path : dict of str to str
                Path to user input files (``.xml`` file for geometry,
                material, and settings) for OpenMC. File type as strings
@@ -68,12 +67,12 @@ def __init__(self,
 
         """
         super().__init__("openmc",
-                         exec_path,
                          template_input_file_path,
                          geo_files,
                          npop,
                          active_cycles,
                          inactive_cycles)
+        self.exec_path='openmc_deplete.py'
         self.runtime_inputfile = {'geometry': './geometry.xml',
                                'settings': './settings.xml'},
         self.runtime_matfile = './materials.xml'
diff --git a/saltproc/serpent_depcode.py b/saltproc/serpent_depcode.py
index c55b9a40d..d2967f63a 100644
--- a/saltproc/serpent_depcode.py
+++ b/saltproc/serpent_depcode.py
@@ -25,6 +25,8 @@ class SerpentDepcode(Depcode):
     step_metadata : dict of str to type
         Holds Serpent2 depletion step metadata. Metadata labels are keys
         and metadata values are values.
+    exec_path : str
+        Path to Serpent2 executable.
     runtime_inputfile : str
         Path to Serpent2 input file used to run depletion step. Contains neutron
         settings and non-burnable materials.
@@ -35,7 +37,6 @@ class SerpentDepcode(Depcode):
     """
 
     def __init__(self,
-                 exec_path="sss2",
                  template_input_file_path="reactor.serpent",
                  geo_files=None,
                  npop=50,
@@ -45,8 +46,6 @@ def __init__(self,
 
            Parameters
            ----------
-           exec_path : str
-               Path to Serpent2 executable.
            template_input_file_path : str
                Path to user input file for Serpent2
            geo_files : str or list, optional
@@ -62,7 +61,6 @@ def __init__(self,
 
         """
         super().__init__("serpent",
-                         exec_path,
                          template_input_file_path,
                          geo_files=geo_files,
                          npop=npop,
@@ -414,6 +412,9 @@ def run_depletion_step(self, cores, nodes):
 
         """
 
+        if self.exec_path is None:
+            raise RuntimeError('Attribute exec_path needs to be set before'
+                               'running depletion step')
         args = (self.exec_path, '-omp', str(cores), self.runtime_inputfile)
         print('Running %s' % (self.codename))
         try: