diff --git a/quimb/tensor/tensor_core.py b/quimb/tensor/tensor_core.py
index 72554f0f..96f36c7d 100644
--- a/quimb/tensor/tensor_core.py
+++ b/quimb/tensor/tensor_core.py
@@ -10361,7 +10361,7 @@ def full_simplify(
         split_simplify_opts=None,
         custom_methods=(),
         split_method="svd",
-        check_zero=True,
+        check_zero="auto",
         inplace=False,
         progbar=False,
     ):
@@ -10405,6 +10405,9 @@ def full_simplify(
         check_zero : bool, optional
             Whether to check if tensors have zero norm and in that case do
             nothing if and when equalizing norms, rather than generating a NaN.
+            If 'auto' this will only be turned on if other methods that
+            explicitly check data entries ("A", "D", "C", "S", "L") are being
+            used (the default).
         progbar : bool, optional
             Show a live progress bar of the simplification process.
         inplace : bool, optional
@@ -10431,6 +10434,10 @@ def full_simplify(
         if output_inds is None:
             output_inds = self.outer_inds()
 
+        if check_zero == "auto":
+            # any method but R checks data entries anyway
+            check_zero == bool(set(seq) - {"R"})
+
         tn.squeeze_(exclude=output_inds)
 
         if cache is None: