diff --git a/python/lsst/sims/photUtils/PhotometricParameters.py b/python/lsst/sims/photUtils/PhotometricParameters.py
index 59bef81..c3abcef 100644
--- a/python/lsst/sims/photUtils/PhotometricParameters.py
+++ b/python/lsst/sims/photUtils/PhotometricParameters.py
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ def makeDict(value,
     gain = makeDict(gainADU)
 
     # electrons per pixel per exposure
-    readnoiseE = 8.5
+    readnoiseE = 8.8
     readnoise = makeDict(readnoiseE)
 
     # electrons per pixel per second
diff --git a/tests/testPhotometricParameters.py b/tests/testPhotometricParameters.py
index c7c5a7e..8bcfb6d 100644
--- a/tests/testPhotometricParameters.py
+++ b/tests/testPhotometricParameters.py
@@ -90,7 +90,7 @@ def testDefaults(self):
             self.assertAlmostEqual(photParams.effarea/(np.pi*(6.423*100/2.0)**2), 1.0, 7)
             self.assertAlmostEqual(photParams.gain, 2.3, 7)
             self.assertAlmostEqual(photParams.darkcurrent, 0.2, 7)
-            self.assertAlmostEqual(photParams.readnoise, 8.5, 7)
+            self.assertAlmostEqual(photParams.readnoise, 8.8, 7)
             self.assertAlmostEqual(photParams.othernoise, 0, 7)
             self.assertAlmostEqual(photParams.platescale, 0.2, 7)
             if bp not in ['u', 'z', 'y']:
@@ -110,7 +110,7 @@ def testNoBandpass(self):
         self.assertAlmostEqual(photParams.effarea/(np.pi*(6.423*100/2.0)**2), 1.0, 7)
         self.assertAlmostEqual(photParams.gain, 2.3, 7)
         self.assertAlmostEqual(photParams.darkcurrent, 0.2, 7)
-        self.assertAlmostEqual(photParams.readnoise, 8.5, 7)
+        self.assertAlmostEqual(photParams.readnoise, 8.8, 7)
         self.assertAlmostEqual(photParams.othernoise, 0, 7)
         self.assertAlmostEqual(photParams.platescale, 0.2, 7)
         self.assertAlmostEqual(photParams.sigmaSys, 0.005, 7)