diff --git a/avogadro/qtplugins/surfaces/surfaces.cpp b/avogadro/qtplugins/surfaces/surfaces.cpp
index 87071bced1..59ce8e13b9 100644
--- a/avogadro/qtplugins/surfaces/surfaces.cpp
+++ b/avogadro/qtplugins/surfaces/surfaces.cpp
@@ -143,8 +143,7 @@ bool Surfaces::handleCommand(const QString& command, const QVariantMap& options)
     if (ok)
       cubeResolution = res;
   }
-  if (options.contains("isovalue") &&
-      options["isovalue"].canConvert<float>()) {
+  if (options.contains("isovalue") && options["isovalue"].canConvert<float>()) {
     bool ok;
     float iso = options["isovalue"].toFloat(&ok);
     if (ok)
@@ -181,9 +180,11 @@ bool Surfaces::handleCommand(const QString& command, const QVariantMap& options)
         if (ok)
           index = index + n;
       }
-
-    } else
-      index = options.value("index").toInt();
+      index = index - 1; // start from zero
+    } else {
+      // internally, we count orbitals from zero
+      index = options.value("index").toInt() - 1;
+    }
   }
   bool beta = false;
   if (options.contains("spin")) {