diff --git a/cicecore/drivers/nuopc/cmeps/ice_import_export.F90 b/cicecore/drivers/nuopc/cmeps/ice_import_export.F90
index 47abb0373..6b539a051 100644
--- a/cicecore/drivers/nuopc/cmeps/ice_import_export.F90
+++ b/cicecore/drivers/nuopc/cmeps/ice_import_export.F90
@@ -1495,6 +1495,7 @@ subroutine SetScalarField(field, flds_scalar_name, flds_scalar_num, rc)
       ! local variables
       type(ESMF_Distgrid) :: distgrid
       type(ESMF_Grid)     :: grid
+      real(ESMF_KIND_R8), pointer :: fldptr2d(:,:)
       character(len=*), parameter :: subname='(ice_import_export:SetScalarField)'
       ! ----------------------------------------------
 
@@ -1511,6 +1512,11 @@ subroutine SetScalarField(field, flds_scalar_name, flds_scalar_num, rc)
            ungriddedLBound=(/1/), ungriddedUBound=(/flds_scalar_num/), gridToFieldMap=(/2/), rc=rc)
       if (ChkErr(rc,__LINE__,u_FILE_u)) return
 
+      ! initialize fldptr to zero
+      call ESMF_FieldGet(field, farrayPtr=fldptr2d, rc=rc)
+      if (ChkErr(rc,__LINE__,u_FILE_u)) return
+      fldptr2d(:,:) = 0.0
+
     end subroutine SetScalarField
 
   end subroutine fldlist_realize