diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 8cecccc2e8..79501a0f8e 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ Bug Fixes
 - Fixes the coil currents in ``desc.coils.initialize_modular_coils`` to now give the correct expected linking current.
 - ``desc.objectives.PlasmaVesselDistance`` now correctly accounts for multiple field periods on both the equilibrium and the vessel surface. Previously it only considered distances within a single field period.
 - Sets ``os.environ["JAX_PLATFORMS"] = "cpu"`` instead of ``os.environ["JAX_PLATFORM_NAME"] = "cpu"`` when doing ``set_device("cpu")``.
-
+- Fixes bug when passing only `sym` into `.change_resolution` for ``FourierRZToroidalSurface``, ``ZernikeRZToroidalSection`` and ``FourierRZCurve``.
 
 Performance Improvements
 
diff --git a/desc/basis.py b/desc/basis.py
index eb882c39bd..65f203dba3 100644
--- a/desc/basis.py
+++ b/desc/basis.py
@@ -539,7 +539,7 @@ def change_resolution(self, N, NFP=None, sym=None):
         """
         NFP = check_posint(NFP, "NFP")
         self._NFP = NFP if NFP is not None else self.NFP
-        if N != self.N:
+        if N != self.N or (sym is not None and sym != self.sym):
             self._N = check_nonnegint(N, "N", False)
             self._sym = sym if sym is not None else self.sym
             self._modes = self._get_modes(self.N)
@@ -690,7 +690,7 @@ def change_resolution(self, M, N, NFP=None, sym=None):
         """
         NFP = check_posint(NFP, "NFP")
         self._NFP = NFP if NFP is not None else self.NFP
-        if M != self.M or N != self.N or sym != self.sym:
+        if M != self.M or N != self.N or (sym is not None and sym != self.sym):
             self._M = check_nonnegint(M, "M", False)
             self._N = check_nonnegint(N, "N", False)
             self._sym = sym if sym is not None else self.sym
@@ -898,7 +898,7 @@ def change_resolution(self, L, M, sym=None):
         None
 
         """
-        if L != self.L or M != self.M or sym != self.sym:
+        if L != self.L or M != self.M or (sym is not None and sym != self.sym):
             self._L = check_nonnegint(L, "L", False)
             self._M = check_nonnegint(M, "M", False)
             self._sym = sym if sym is not None else self.sym
@@ -1073,7 +1073,12 @@ def change_resolution(self, L, M, N, NFP=None, sym=None):
         """
         NFP = check_posint(NFP, "NFP")
         self._NFP = NFP if NFP is not None else self.NFP
-        if L != self.L or M != self.M or N != self.N or sym != self.sym:
+        if (
+            L != self.L
+            or M != self.M
+            or N != self.N
+            or (sym is not None and sym != self.sym)
+        ):
             self._L = check_nonnegint(L, "L", False)
             self._M = check_nonnegint(M, "M", False)
             self._N = check_nonnegint(N, "N", False)
@@ -1311,7 +1316,12 @@ def change_resolution(self, L, M, N, NFP=None, sym=None):
         """
         NFP = check_posint(NFP, "NFP")
         self._NFP = NFP if NFP is not None else self.NFP
-        if L != self.L or M != self.M or N != self.N or sym != self.sym:
+        if (
+            L != self.L
+            or M != self.M
+            or N != self.N
+            or (sym is not None and sym != self.sym)
+        ):
             self._L = check_nonnegint(L, "L", False)
             self._M = check_nonnegint(M, "M", False)
             self._N = check_nonnegint(N, "N", False)
diff --git a/desc/equilibrium/equilibrium.py b/desc/equilibrium/equilibrium.py
index 84a3b6dfce..37c8cb520f 100644
--- a/desc/equilibrium/equilibrium.py
+++ b/desc/equilibrium/equilibrium.py
@@ -264,8 +264,8 @@ def __init__(
         self._M_grid = setdefault(M_grid, 2 * self.M)
         self._N_grid = setdefault(N_grid, 2 * self.N)
 
-        self._surface.change_resolution(self.L, self.M, self.N)
-        self._axis.change_resolution(self.N)
+        self._surface.change_resolution(self.L, self.M, self.N, sym=self.sym)
+        self._axis.change_resolution(self.N, sym=self.sym)
 
         # bases
         self._R_basis = FourierZernikeBasis(
diff --git a/desc/geometry/curve.py b/desc/geometry/curve.py
index 2e141710fb..077fbea5ca 100644
--- a/desc/geometry/curve.py
+++ b/desc/geometry/curve.py
@@ -127,8 +127,7 @@ def change_resolution(self, N=None, NFP=None, sym=None):
         if (
             ((N is not None) and (N != self.N))
             or ((NFP is not None) and (NFP != self.NFP))
-            or (sym is not None)
-            and (sym != self.sym)
+            or ((sym is not None) and (sym != self.sym))
         ):
             self._NFP = int(NFP if NFP is not None else self.NFP)
             self._sym = bool(sym) if sym is not None else self.sym
diff --git a/desc/geometry/surface.py b/desc/geometry/surface.py
index f6350ea210..d0aca17079 100644
--- a/desc/geometry/surface.py
+++ b/desc/geometry/surface.py
@@ -205,13 +205,14 @@ def change_resolution(self, *args, **kwargs):
         N = check_nonnegint(N, "N")
         NFP = check_posint(NFP, "NFP")
         self._NFP = int(NFP if NFP is not None else self.NFP)
-        self._sym = sym if sym is not None else self.sym
 
         if (
             ((N is not None) and (N != self.N))
             or ((M is not None) and (M != self.M))
             or (NFP is not None)
+            or ((sym is not None) and (sym != self.sym))
         ):
+            self._sym = sym if sym is not None else self.sym
             M = int(M if M is not None else self.M)
             N = int(N if N is not None else self.N)
             R_modes_old = self.R_basis.modes
@@ -975,9 +976,13 @@ def change_resolution(self, *args, **kwargs):
 
         L = check_nonnegint(L, "L")
         M = check_nonnegint(M, "M")
-        self._sym = sym if sym is not None else self.sym
 
-        if ((L is not None) and (L != self.L)) or ((M is not None) and (M != self.M)):
+        if (
+            ((L is not None) and (L != self.L))
+            or ((M is not None) and (M != self.M))
+            or ((sym is not None) and (sym != self.sym))
+        ):
+            self._sym = sym if sym is not None else self.sym
             L = int(L if L is not None else self.L)
             M = int(M if M is not None else self.M)
             R_modes_old = self.R_basis.modes
diff --git a/tests/test_curves.py b/tests/test_curves.py
index 0b1af1d63e..8b617600c8 100644
--- a/tests/test_curves.py
+++ b/tests/test_curves.py
@@ -327,6 +327,20 @@ def test_to_FourierRZCurve(self):
         with pytest.raises(ValueError):
             xyz.to_FourierRZ(N=1, grid=grid)
 
+    @pytest.mark.unit
+    def test_change_symmetry(self):
+        """Test correct sym changes when only sym is passed to change_resolution."""
+        c = FourierRZCurve(sym=False)
+        c.change_resolution(sym=True)
+        assert c.sym
+        assert c.R_basis.sym == "cos"
+        assert c.Z_basis.sym == "sin"
+
+        c.change_resolution(sym=False)
+        assert c.sym is False
+        assert c.R_basis.sym is False
+        assert c.Z_basis.sym is False
+
 
 class TestFourierXYZCurve:
     """Tests for FourierXYZCurve class."""
diff --git a/tests/test_equilibrium.py b/tests/test_equilibrium.py
index 14e9cea903..456884d8b9 100644
--- a/tests/test_equilibrium.py
+++ b/tests/test_equilibrium.py
@@ -1,11 +1,11 @@
 """Tests for Equilibrium class."""
 
 import os
-import pickle
 import warnings
 
 import numpy as np
 import pytest
+from qic import Qic
 
 from desc.__main__ import main
 from desc.backend import sign
@@ -263,6 +263,9 @@ def test_eq_change_symmetry():
     assert eq.surface.sym
     assert eq.surface.R_basis.sym == "cos"
     assert eq.surface.Z_basis.sym == "sin"
+    assert eq.axis.sym
+    assert eq.axis.R_basis.sym == "cos"
+    assert eq.axis.Z_basis.sym == "sin"
 
     # undo symmetry
     eq.change_resolution(sym=False)
@@ -276,6 +279,9 @@ def test_eq_change_symmetry():
     assert not eq.surface.sym
     assert not eq.surface.R_basis.sym
     assert not eq.surface.Z_basis.sym
+    assert eq.axis.sym is False
+    assert eq.axis.R_basis.sym is False
+    assert eq.axis.Z_basis.sym is False
 
 
 @pytest.mark.unit
@@ -292,20 +298,58 @@ def test_resolution():
 @pytest.mark.unit
 def test_equilibrium_from_near_axis():
     """Test loading a solution from pyQSC/pyQIC."""
-    qsc_path = "./tests/inputs/qsc_r2section5.5.pkl"
-    file = open(qsc_path, "rb")
-    na = pickle.load(file)
-    file.close()
+    na = Qic.from_paper("r2 section 5.5", rs=[0, 1e-5], zc=[0, 1e-5])
 
     r = 1e-2
     eq = Equilibrium.from_near_axis(na, r=r, M=8, N=8)
     grid = LinearGrid(M=eq.M_grid, N=eq.N_grid, NFP=eq.NFP, sym=eq.sym)
     data = eq.compute("|B|", grid=grid)
 
+    # get the sin/cos modes
+    eq_rc = eq.Ra_n[
+        np.where(
+            np.logical_and(
+                eq.axis.R_basis.modes[:, 2] >= 0,
+                eq.axis.R_basis.modes[:, 2] < na.nfourier,
+            )
+        )
+    ]
+    eq_zc = eq.Za_n[
+        np.where(
+            np.logical_and(
+                eq.axis.Z_basis.modes[:, 2] >= 0,
+                eq.axis.Z_basis.modes[:, 2] < na.nfourier,
+            )
+        )
+    ]
+    eq_rs = np.flipud(
+        eq.Ra_n[
+            np.where(
+                np.logical_and(
+                    eq.axis.R_basis.modes[:, 2] < 0,
+                    eq.axis.R_basis.modes[:, 2] > -na.nfourier,
+                )
+            )
+        ]
+    )
+    eq_zs = np.flipud(
+        eq.Za_n[
+            np.where(
+                np.logical_and(
+                    eq.axis.Z_basis.modes[:, 2] < 0,
+                    eq.axis.Z_basis.modes[:, 2] > -na.nfourier,
+                )
+            )
+        ]
+    )
+
     assert eq.is_nested()
     assert eq.NFP == na.nfp
-    np.testing.assert_allclose(eq.Ra_n[:2], na.rc, atol=1e-10)
-    np.testing.assert_allclose(eq.Za_n[-2:], na.zs, atol=1e-10)
+    np.testing.assert_allclose(eq_rc, na.rc, atol=1e-10)
+    # na.zs[0] is always 0, which DESC doesn't include
+    np.testing.assert_allclose(eq_zs, na.zs[1:], atol=1e-10)
+    np.testing.assert_allclose(eq_rs, na.rs[1:], atol=1e-10)
+    np.testing.assert_allclose(eq_zc, na.zc, atol=1e-10)
     np.testing.assert_allclose(data["|B|"][0], na.B_mag(r, 0, 0), rtol=2e-2)
 
 
diff --git a/tests/test_surfaces.py b/tests/test_surfaces.py
index c6d3a23480..aa47500728 100644
--- a/tests/test_surfaces.py
+++ b/tests/test_surfaces.py
@@ -514,3 +514,33 @@ def test_surface_orientation():
     assert surf._compute_orientation() == -1
     eq = Equilibrium(M=surf.M, N=surf.N, surface=surf, check_orientation=False)
     assert np.sign(eq.compute("sqrt(g)")["sqrt(g)"].mean()) == -1
+
+
+@pytest.mark.unit
+def test_surface_change_only_symmetry():
+    """Test that sym correctly changes when only sym is passed to change_resolution."""
+    surf = FourierRZToroidalSurface(sym=False)
+    surf.change_resolution(sym=True)
+    assert surf.sym
+    assert surf.R_basis.sym == "cos"
+    assert surf.Z_basis.sym == "sin"
+
+    surf.change_resolution(sym=False)
+    assert surf.sym is False
+    assert surf.R_basis.sym is False
+    assert surf.Z_basis.sym is False
+
+
+@pytest.mark.unit
+def test_section_change_only_symmetry():
+    """Test that sym correctly changes when only sym is passed to change_resolution."""
+    surf = ZernikeRZToroidalSection(sym=False)
+    surf.change_resolution(sym=True)
+    assert surf.sym
+    assert surf.R_basis.sym == "cos"
+    assert surf.Z_basis.sym == "sin"
+
+    surf.change_resolution(sym=False)
+    assert surf.sym is False
+    assert surf.R_basis.sym is False
+    assert surf.Z_basis.sym is False