diff --git a/scripts/exglobal_atmos_analysis.sh b/scripts/exglobal_atmos_analysis.sh
index 7970b9b3d8..c1d3c01834 100755
--- a/scripts/exglobal_atmos_analysis.sh
+++ b/scripts/exglobal_atmos_analysis.sh
@@ -537,9 +537,6 @@ $NLN $SFCGES sfcf06
 $NLN $SFCG09 sfcf09
 
 # Link hourly backgrounds (if present)
-if [ -f $ATMG04 -a -f $ATMG05 -a -f $ATMG07 -a -f $ATMG08 ]; then
-   nhr_obsbin=1
-fi
 
 [[ -f $ATMG04 ]] && $NLN $ATMG04 sigf04
 [[ -f $ATMG05 ]] && $NLN $ATMG05 sigf05
@@ -562,6 +559,7 @@ if [ $DOHYBVAR = "YES" ]; then
    fhrs="06"
    if [ $l4densvar = ".true." ]; then
       fhrs="03 04 05 06 07 08 09"
+      nhr_obsbin=1
    fi
 
    for imem in $(seq 1 $NMEM_ENKF); do