diff --git a/nestkernel/synaptic_element.cpp b/nestkernel/synaptic_element.cpp
index cd51c16861..18750ea5e5 100644
--- a/nestkernel/synaptic_element.cpp
+++ b/nestkernel/synaptic_element.cpp
@@ -115,6 +115,7 @@ nest::SynapticElement::set( const DictionaryDatum& d )
   updateValue< double >( d, names::tau_vacant, new_tau_vacant );
   updateValue< bool >( d, names::continuous, continuous_ );
   updateValue< double >( d, names::z, z_ );
+  updateValue< double >( d, names::z_connected, z_connected_ );
 
   if ( d->known( names::growth_curve ) )
   {
diff --git a/nestkernel/synaptic_element.h b/nestkernel/synaptic_element.h
index 8c2dfac349..e8e425caa3 100644
--- a/nestkernel/synaptic_element.h
+++ b/nestkernel/synaptic_element.h
@@ -45,6 +45,10 @@
  *                             double value. An standard value for the growth of
  * a
  *                             synaptic element is around 0.0001 elements/ms.
+ *  z_connected      integer - Current number of connected synaptic elements. Stored
+ *                             as an integer variable. The difference between z
+ *                             and this value determines the number of vacant
+ *                             synaptic elements. Default is 0.
  *  continuous       boolean - Defines if the number of synaptic elements should
  *                             be treated as a continuous double number or as an
  *                             integer value. Default is false.