diff --git a/hnn_core/network.py b/hnn_core/network.py
index e17103f7f6..5156d666e6 100644
--- a/hnn_core/network.py
+++ b/hnn_core/network.py
@@ -1106,6 +1106,7 @@ def _add_cell_type(self, cell_name, pos, cell_template=None):
         self.gid_ranges[cell_name] = range(ll, self._n_gids)
         self.pos_dict[cell_name] = pos
         if cell_template is not None:
+            self.cell_types.update({cell_name: cell_template})
             self._n_cells += len(pos)
 
     def gid_to_type(self, gid):