diff --git a/MC/bin/o2dpg_sim_config.py b/MC/bin/o2dpg_sim_config.py
index 79c6a4179..0ffc69e9c 100755
--- a/MC/bin/o2dpg_sim_config.py
+++ b/MC/bin/o2dpg_sim_config.py
@@ -183,6 +183,12 @@ def add(cfg, flatconfig):
     # ----- add default settings -----
 
     add(config, {"MFTBase.buildAlignment" : "true"})
+
+    # Keep the ZEM calorimeters, drop the +-113 m beam line that makes the ZDC
+    # expensive to transport. --with-ZDC asks for the whole thing, and an explicit
+    # "--skipModules ZDC" still removes the module altogether.
+    if not getattr(args, "with_ZDC", False) and "ZDC" not in getattr(args, "skipModules", []):
+        add(config, {"ZDCSimParam.buildBeamLine" : "false"})
     add(config, {"GenTPCLoopers.colsys" : args.col})
 
     # ----- apply external overwrites from command line -------
diff --git a/MC/bin/o2dpg_sim_workflow.py b/MC/bin/o2dpg_sim_workflow.py
index 304cbd905..53b23a8b1 100755
--- a/MC/bin/o2dpg_sim_workflow.py
+++ b/MC/bin/o2dpg_sim_workflow.py
@@ -110,7 +110,7 @@
 parser.add_argument('--force-n-workers', dest='force_n_workers', action='store_true', help='by default, number of workers is re-computed '
                                                                                            'for given interaction rate; '
                                                                                            'pass this to avoid that')
-parser.add_argument('--skipModules',nargs="*", help="List of modules to skip in geometry budget (and therefore processing)", default=["ZDC"])
+parser.add_argument('--skipModules',nargs="*", help="List of modules to skip in geometry budget (and therefore processing)", default=[])
 parser.add_argument('--skipReadout',nargs="*", help="List of modules to take out from readout", default=[""])
 parser.add_argument('--with-ZDC', action='store_true', help='Enable ZDC in workflow')
 parser.add_argument('-seed',help='random seed number', default=None)
@@ -273,18 +273,12 @@ def load_external_config(configfile):
    print(f"INFO: Written additional config key parameters to JSON {config_key_param_path}")
    json.dump(anchorConfig, f, indent=2)
 
-# Processing skipped material budget (modules):
-# - If user did NOT specify --with-ZDC
-# - AND ZDC is not already in the list
-# --> append ZDC automatically
-if args.with_ZDC:
-   # User wants ZDC to *not* be skipped → ensure it's removed
-   args.skipModules = [m for m in args.skipModules if m != "ZDC"]
-else:
-   # If user did not request --with-ZDC,
-   # auto-append ZDC unless already present
-   if "ZDC" not in args.skipModules:
-      args.skipModules.append("ZDC")
+# The ZDC geometry is the +-113 m beam line, its magnets, ZN, ZP and ZEM. What it
+# costs in transport time is the beam line; ZEM sits at z = 7.6 m and carries
+# 217 kg of material inside the FIT and FDD acceptance. Without --with-ZDC we
+# therefore drop the beam line and keep ZEM, instead of dropping the whole module
+# -- see ZDCSimParam.buildBeamLine in create_geant_config(). ZDC stays out of the
+# readout either way, which the deactivate_detector('ZDC') below takes care of.
 
 # with this we can tailor the workflow to the presence of
 # certain detectors
diff --git a/MC/run/ANCHOR/anchorMC.sh b/MC/run/ANCHOR/anchorMC.sh
index 0aa4832f4..7d9f903c6 100755
--- a/MC/run/ANCHOR/anchorMC.sh
+++ b/MC/run/ANCHOR/anchorMC.sh
@@ -344,7 +344,6 @@ fi
 
 # -- CREATE THE MC JOB DESCRIPTION ANCHORED TO RUN --
 
-MODULES="--skipModules ZDC"
 
 # publish MCPRODINFO for first few jobs of a production
 # if external script exported PUBLISH_MCPRODINFO, it will be published anyways
diff --git a/MC/run/ANCHOR/anchorMC_DataEmbedding.sh b/MC/run/ANCHOR/anchorMC_DataEmbedding.sh
index 80cb1daae..d9a6f3f18 100755
--- a/MC/run/ANCHOR/anchorMC_DataEmbedding.sh
+++ b/MC/run/ANCHOR/anchorMC_DataEmbedding.sh
@@ -300,7 +300,6 @@ fi
 
 # -- CREATE THE MC JOB DESCRIPTION ANCHORED TO RUN --
 
-MODULES="--skipModules ZDC"
 
 # publish MCPRODINFO for first few jobs of a production
 # if external script exported PUBLISH_MCPRODINFO, it will be published anyways