diff --git a/include/bout/region.hxx b/include/bout/region.hxx
index 4649b680eb..bb1cf82bf1 100644
--- a/include/bout/region.hxx
+++ b/include/bout/region.hxx
@@ -308,6 +308,8 @@ struct SpecificInd {
     ASSERT3(dz >= 0);
     return {(ind) % nz < dz ? ind + nz - dz : ind - dz, ny, nz};
   }
+  /// Automatically select zm or zp depending on sign
+  inline SpecificInd zpm(int dz) const { return dz > 0 ? zp(dz) : zm(-dz); }
 
   // and for 2 cells
   inline SpecificInd xpp() const { return xp(2); }
@@ -319,8 +321,7 @@ struct SpecificInd {
 
   /// Generic offset of \p index in multiple directions simultaneously
   inline SpecificInd offset(int dx, int dy, int dz) const {
-    auto temp = (dz > 0) ? zp(dz) : zm(-dz);
-    return temp.yp(dy).xp(dx);
+    return zpm(dz).yp(dy).xp(dx);
   }
 };