diff --git a/tests/default_vars.sh b/tests/default_vars.sh
index b035869e77..547465ee78 100644
--- a/tests/default_vars.sh
+++ b/tests/default_vars.sh
@@ -966,6 +966,7 @@ export_cice6() {
   export MESH_DICE=none
   export stream_files_dice=none
   export CICE_PRESCRIBED=false
+  export DICE_CDEPS=false
 }
 
 # Defaults for the MOM6 model namelist, mx100