diff --git a/components/mpas-ocean/src/shared/mpas_ocn_diagnostics.F b/components/mpas-ocean/src/shared/mpas_ocn_diagnostics.F
index 288c79db284d..77796959538d 100644
--- a/components/mpas-ocean/src/shared/mpas_ocn_diagnostics.F
+++ b/components/mpas-ocean/src/shared/mpas_ocn_diagnostics.F
@@ -181,7 +181,7 @@ subroutine ocn_diagnostic_solve(dt, statePool, forcingPool, meshPool, verticalMe
          call mpas_pool_get_array(forcingPool, 'landIceDraft', landIceDraft)
          call mpas_pool_get_array(forcingPool, 'landIceFloatingMask', landIceFloatingMask)
          call mpas_pool_get_array(forcingPool, 'landIceFraction', landIceFraction)
-         if (landIceFloatingMask(1) == -1) then
+         if (nCellsAll.gt.0 .AND. landIceFloatingMask(1) == -1) then
             call mpas_log_write('landIceFloatingMask contains the default value which likely indicates that this field is missing in the initial condition file (e.g. because it is meant for an older E3SM version).', &
                                 MPAS_LOG_CRIT)
          endif