diff --git a/src/cbmc_starter_kit/template-for-proof/Makefile b/src/cbmc_starter_kit/template-for-proof/Makefile
index d08207a1..dffc1073 100644
--- a/src/cbmc_starter_kit/template-for-proof/Makefile
+++ b/src/cbmc_starter_kit/template-for-proof/Makefile
@@ -18,7 +18,10 @@ PROJECT_SOURCES += $(SRCDIR)/<__PATH_TO_SOURCE_FILE__>
 # EXPENSIVE variable. With new enough versions of the proof tools, this will
 # restrict the number of EXPENSIVE CBMC jobs running at once. See the
 # documentation in Makefile.common under the "Job Pools" heading for details.
+# You may also choose to set ENABLE_POOLS right here, or else set it on the
+# command-line (see Makefile.common).
 # EXPENSIVE = true
+# ENABLE_POOLS = true
 
 # If you require access to a file-local ("static") function or object to conduct
 # your proof, set the following (and do not include the original source file
diff --git a/src/cbmc_starter_kit/template-for-repository/proofs/Makefile.common b/src/cbmc_starter_kit/template-for-repository/proofs/Makefile.common
index 0990615c..a4d680d8 100644
--- a/src/cbmc_starter_kit/template-for-repository/proofs/Makefile.common
+++ b/src/cbmc_starter_kit/template-for-repository/proofs/Makefile.common
@@ -211,10 +211,13 @@ CHECKFLAGS += $(USE_EXTERNAL_SAT_SOLVER)
 
 ifeq ($(strip $(ENABLE_POOLS)),)
   POOL =
+  INIT_POOLS =
 else ifeq ($(strip $(EXPENSIVE)),)
   POOL =
+  INIT_POOLS =
 else
   POOL = --pool expensive
+  INIT_POOLS = --pools expensive:1
 endif
 
 # Similar to the pool feature above. If Litani is new enough, enable
@@ -915,7 +918,7 @@ litani-path:
 _goto: $(HARNESS_GOTO).goto
 goto:
 	@ echo Running 'litani init'
-	$(LITANI) init --project $(PROJECT_NAME)
+	$(LITANI) init $(INIT_POOLS) --project $(PROJECT_NAME)
 	@ echo Running 'litani add-job'
 	$(MAKE) -B _goto
 	@ echo Running 'litani build'
@@ -924,7 +927,7 @@ goto:
 _result: $(LOGDIR)/result.txt
 result:
 	@ echo Running 'litani init'
-	$(LITANI) init --project $(PROJECT_NAME)
+	$(LITANI) init $(INIT_POOLS) --project $(PROJECT_NAME)
 	@ echo Running 'litani add-job'
 	$(MAKE) -B _result
 	@ echo Running 'litani build'
@@ -933,7 +936,7 @@ result:
 _property: $(LOGDIR)/property.xml
 property:
 	@ echo Running 'litani init'
-	$(LITANI) init --project $(PROJECT_NAME)
+	$(LITANI) init $(INIT_POOLS) --project $(PROJECT_NAME)
 	@ echo Running 'litani add-job'
 	$(MAKE) -B _property
 	@ echo Running 'litani build'
@@ -942,7 +945,7 @@ property:
 _coverage: $(LOGDIR)/coverage.xml
 coverage:
 	@ echo Running 'litani init'
-	$(LITANI) init --project $(PROJECT_NAME)
+	$(LITANI) init $(INIT_POOLS) --project $(PROJECT_NAME)
 	@ echo Running 'litani add-job'
 	$(MAKE) -B _coverage
 	@ echo Running 'litani build'
@@ -951,7 +954,7 @@ coverage:
 _report: $(PROOFDIR)/report
 report:
 	@ echo Running 'litani init'
-	$(LITANI) init --project $(PROJECT_NAME)
+	$(LITANI) init $(INIT_POOLS) --project $(PROJECT_NAME)
 	@ echo Running 'litani add-job'
 	$(MAKE) -B _report
 	@ echo Running 'litani build'