diff --git a/models/neurons/aeif_cond_alpha.nestml b/models/neurons/aeif_cond_alpha.nestml
index 34be671a7..8f2868463 100644
--- a/models/neurons/aeif_cond_alpha.nestml
+++ b/models/neurons/aeif_cond_alpha.nestml
@@ -44,6 +44,7 @@ neuron aeif_cond_alpha:
     state:
         V_m mV = E_L       # Membrane potential
         w pA = 0 pA        # Spike-adaptation current
+        r integer          # Counts number of tick during the refractory period
 
     equations:
         inline V_bounded mV = min(V_m, V_peak) # prevent exponential divergence
@@ -93,8 +94,6 @@ neuron aeif_cond_alpha:
 
         # refractory time in steps
         RefractoryCounts integer = steps(t_ref)
-        # counts number of tick during the refractory period
-        r integer
 
     input:
         inh_spikes <- inhibitory spike
diff --git a/models/neurons/aeif_cond_exp.nestml b/models/neurons/aeif_cond_exp.nestml
index 834ff0c8f..364cb8132 100644
--- a/models/neurons/aeif_cond_exp.nestml
+++ b/models/neurons/aeif_cond_exp.nestml
@@ -45,6 +45,7 @@ neuron aeif_cond_exp:
     state:
         V_m mV = E_L   # Membrane potential
         w pA = 0 pA    # Spike-adaptation current
+        r integer          # Counts number of tick during the refractory period
 
     equations:
         inline V_bounded mV = min(V_m, V_peak)    # prevent exponential divergence
@@ -88,8 +89,6 @@ neuron aeif_cond_exp:
     internals:
         # refractory time in steps
         RefractoryCounts integer = steps(t_ref)
-        # counts number of tick during the refractory period
-        r integer
 
     input:
         inh_spikes <- inhibitory spike