diff --git a/src/soca/Model/mom6solo/Model.cc b/src/soca/Model/mom6solo/Model.cc
index e1e35ed82..38d94a56f 100644
--- a/src/soca/Model/mom6solo/Model.cc
+++ b/src/soca/Model/mom6solo/Model.cc
@@ -31,11 +31,9 @@ namespace soca {
     : keyConfig_(0),
       tstep_(0),
       geom_(resol),
-      vars_(model, "model variables"),
       setup_mom6_(true)
   {
     Log::trace() << "Model::Model" << std::endl;
-    Log::trace() << "Model vars: " << vars_ << std::endl;
     tstep_ = util::Duration(model.getString("tstep"));
     setup_mom6_ = model.getBool("setup_mom6", true);
     const eckit::Configuration * configc = &model;
diff --git a/src/soca/Model/mom6solo/Model.h b/src/soca/Model/mom6solo/Model.h
index de320f6d4..c12989812 100644
--- a/src/soca/Model/mom6solo/Model.h
+++ b/src/soca/Model/mom6solo/Model.h
@@ -64,7 +64,6 @@ namespace soca {
 
     /// Utilities
     const util::Duration & timeResolution() const {return tstep_;}
-    const oops::Variables & variables() const {return vars_;}
 
    private:
     void print(std::ostream &) const;
@@ -72,7 +71,6 @@ namespace soca {
     util::Duration tstep_;
     bool setup_mom6_;
     const Geometry & geom_;
-    const oops::Variables vars_;
   };
   // -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
diff --git a/src/soca/Model/ufsm6c6/ModelUFSm6c6.cc b/src/soca/Model/ufsm6c6/ModelUFSm6c6.cc
index 76c87d215..2466d2fb4 100644
--- a/src/soca/Model/ufsm6c6/ModelUFSm6c6.cc
+++ b/src/soca/Model/ufsm6c6/ModelUFSm6c6.cc
@@ -32,10 +32,8 @@ namespace soca {
     : keyConfig_(0),
       tstep_(0),
       geom_(resol),
-      vars_(model, "model variables")
   {
     Log::trace() << "ModelUFSm6c6::ModelUFSm6c6" << std::endl;
-    Log::trace() << "ModelUFSm6c6 vars: " << vars_ << std::endl;
     tstep_ = util::Duration(model.getString("tstep"));
   }
   // -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
diff --git a/src/soca/Model/ufsm6c6/ModelUFSm6c6.h b/src/soca/Model/ufsm6c6/ModelUFSm6c6.h
index 593d79c11..cc306e6f6 100644
--- a/src/soca/Model/ufsm6c6/ModelUFSm6c6.h
+++ b/src/soca/Model/ufsm6c6/ModelUFSm6c6.h
@@ -64,14 +64,12 @@ namespace soca {
 
     /// Utilities
     const util::Duration & timeResolution() const {return tstep_;}
-    const oops::Variables & variables() const {return vars_;}
 
    private:
     void print(std::ostream &) const;
     int keyConfig_;
     util::Duration tstep_;
     const Geometry & geom_;
-    const oops::Variables vars_;
   };
   // -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
diff --git a/test/testinput/3dvarfgat_pseudo.yml b/test/testinput/3dvarfgat_pseudo.yml
index 7f101466d..2dbbcb9ee 100644
--- a/test/testinput/3dvarfgat_pseudo.yml
+++ b/test/testinput/3dvarfgat_pseudo.yml
@@ -26,7 +26,6 @@ cost function:
   model:
     name: PseudoModel
     tstep: PT1H
-    state variables: &model_vars [socn, tocn, ssh, hocn, uocn, vocn, mld, layer_depth]
     _state : &state
       basename: data_generated/forecast_mom6/
       read_from_file: 1
@@ -55,7 +54,7 @@ cost function:
     basename: data_static/72x35x25/restarts/
     ocn_filename: MOM.res.nc
     date: &bkg_date 2018-04-15T00:00:00Z
-    state variables: *model_vars
+    state variables: [socn, tocn, ssh, hocn, uocn, vocn, mld, layer_depth]
 
   background error:
     covariance model: SocaError
diff --git a/test/testinput/forecast_pseudo.yml b/test/testinput/forecast_pseudo.yml
index db90e93c6..dc9606b1d 100644
--- a/test/testinput/forecast_pseudo.yml
+++ b/test/testinput/forecast_pseudo.yml
@@ -6,7 +6,6 @@ geometry:
 model:
   name: PseudoModel
   tstep: PT1H
-  state variables: [socn, tocn, ssh, hocn, uocn, vocn]
   states:
   - date: 2018-04-15T01:00:00Z
     basename: data_generated/forecast_mom6/
diff --git a/test/testinput/hofx_4d_pseudo.yml b/test/testinput/hofx_4d_pseudo.yml
index f7760ea37..b71387d8f 100644
--- a/test/testinput/hofx_4d_pseudo.yml
+++ b/test/testinput/hofx_4d_pseudo.yml
@@ -6,7 +6,6 @@ geometry:
 model:
   name: PseudoModel
   tstep: PT1H
-  state variables: &soca_vars [socn, tocn, ssh, hocn, uocn, vocn]
   states:
   - date: 2018-04-15T01:00:00Z
     basename: data_generated/forecast_mom6/
@@ -26,7 +25,7 @@ initial condition:
   date: 2018-04-15T00:00:00Z
   basename: data_static/72x35x25/restarts/
   ocn_filename: MOM.res.nc
-  state variables: *soca_vars
+  state variables: [socn, tocn, ssh, hocn, uocn, vocn]
 
 window begin: 2018-04-15T00:00:00Z
 window length: PT3H