diff --git a/tests/default_vars.sh b/tests/default_vars.sh
index 0cd66f8a96..6e02110672 100644
--- a/tests/default_vars.sh
+++ b/tests/default_vars.sh
@@ -984,6 +984,7 @@ export_mom6() {
   export MOM6_CHLCLIM=seawifs_1998-2006_smoothed_2X.nc
   export MOM6_USE_LI2016=True
   export MOM6_TOPOEDITS=''
+  export MOM6_PARALLEL_RESTARTFILES=True
   # since CPL_SLOW is set to DT_THERM, this should be always be false
   export MOM6_THERMO_SPAN=False
   export MOM6_USE_WAVES=True