diff --git a/tests/default_vars.sh b/tests/default_vars.sh
index f9416fb2d2..75de8732d5 100644
--- a/tests/default_vars.sh
+++ b/tests/default_vars.sh
@@ -898,6 +898,7 @@ export_cice6() {
   export DT_CICE=${DT_ATMOS}
   export CICE_NPT=999
   export CICE_RUNTYPE=initial
+  export CICE_ICE_IC='cice_model.res.nc'
   export CICE_RUNID=unknown
   export CICE_USE_RESTART_TIME=.false.
   export CICE_RESTART_DIR=./RESTART/
diff --git a/tests/parm/ice_in.IN b/tests/parm/ice_in.IN
index 7910561fe0..9b00aebb39 100644
--- a/tests/parm/ice_in.IN
+++ b/tests/parm/ice_in.IN
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
     ndtd                = 1
     runtype             = '@[CICE_RUNTYPE]'
     runid               = '@[CICE_RUNID]'
-    ice_ic              = 'cice_model.res.nc'
+    ice_ic              = '@[CICE_ICE_IC]'
     restart             = .true.
     restart_ext         = .false.
     use_restart_time    = @[CICE_USE_RESTART_TIME]
diff --git a/tests/tests/atm_ds2s_docn_pcice b/tests/tests/atm_ds2s_docn_pcice
index 62558c22c9..1e901f75d7 100644
--- a/tests/tests/atm_ds2s_docn_pcice
+++ b/tests/tests/atm_ds2s_docn_pcice
@@ -103,6 +103,8 @@ export STREAM_OFFSET=0
 #export ICERES=1.00
 #export NX_GLB=360
 #export NY_GLB=320
+export CICE_RUNTYPE=initial
+export CICE_ICE_IC=none
 export CICE_PRESCRIBED=true
 export stream_files_dice=$ocn_data
 export MESH_DICE=$MESH_OCN