diff --git a/dpdata/formats/psi4/input.py b/dpdata/formats/psi4/input.py
index 3959cb753..f9eb18fde 100644
--- a/dpdata/formats/psi4/input.py
+++ b/dpdata/formats/psi4/input.py
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@
 }}
 set basis {basis:s}
 set gradient_write on
-G, wfn = gradient("WB97M-D3BJ", return_wfn=True)
+G, wfn = gradient("{method:s}", return_wfn=True)
 wfn.energy()
 wfn.gradient().print_out()
 """
diff --git a/tests/test_psi4.py b/tests/test_psi4.py
index 5454fb5aa..bea485554 100644
--- a/tests/test_psi4.py
+++ b/tests/test_psi4.py
@@ -95,3 +95,12 @@ def test_psi4_input(self):
             """
             ),
         )
+
+    def test_psi4_input_uses_requested_method(self):
+        system = dpdata.LabeledSystem("psi4/psi4.out", fmt="psi4/out")
+        with tempfile.NamedTemporaryFile("r") as f:
+            system.to_psi4_inp(f.name, method="hf", basis="sto-3g")
+            content = f.read()
+
+        self.assertIn('G, wfn = gradient("hf", return_wfn=True)', content)
+        self.assertNotIn('G, wfn = gradient("WB97M-D3BJ", return_wfn=True)', content)