diff --git a/physics/Interstitials/UFS_SCM_NEPTUNE/sfcsub.F b/physics/Interstitials/UFS_SCM_NEPTUNE/sfcsub.F
index 369a94358..2ff33498b 100644
--- a/physics/Interstitials/UFS_SCM_NEPTUNE/sfcsub.F
+++ b/physics/Interstitials/UFS_SCM_NEPTUNE/sfcsub.F
@@ -7670,7 +7670,7 @@ subroutine clima(lugb,iy,im,id,ih,fh,len,lsoil,slmskl,slmskw,     &
                   ! points.  so for efficiency, don't have fixrdc try to
                   ! find a value at landice points as defined by the vet type (vet).
               allocate(slmask_noice(len))
-              slmask_noice = 1.0
+              slmask_noice = slmskl
               do i = 1, len
                 if (nint(vet(i)) < 1 .or.
      &              nint(vet(i)) == landice_cat) then