diff --git a/default.latex b/default.latex
index 219756982..3d31a5731 100644
--- a/default.latex
+++ b/default.latex
@@ -155,7 +155,7 @@ $endif$
 \providecommand{\tightlist}{%
   \setlength{\itemsep}{0pt}\setlength{\parskip}{0pt}}
 $if(numbersections)$
-\setcounter{secnumdepth}{5}
+\setcounter{secnumdepth}{$if(secnumdepth)$$secnumdepth$$else$5$endif$}
 $else$
 \setcounter{secnumdepth}{0}
 $endif$