diff --git a/io/post_gfs.F90 b/io/post_gfs.F90
index 4fb16535d..0907d7d76 100644
--- a/io/post_gfs.F90
+++ b/io/post_gfs.F90
@@ -156,15 +156,19 @@ subroutine post_run_gfs(wrt_int_state,mypei,mpicomp,lead_write,      &
             if(mype==0) print *,'af read_xml at fh00,name=',trim(filenameflat)
           else if(ifhr > 0) then
             filenameflat = 'postxconfig-NT.txt'
-            if(size(paramset)>0) then
-              do i=1,size(paramset)
-                if (size(paramset(i)%param)>0) then
-                  deallocate(paramset(i)%param)
-                  nullify(paramset(i)%param)
-                endif
-              enddo
-              deallocate(paramset)
-              nullify(paramset)
+            if(associated(paramset)) then
+              if( size(paramset)>0) then
+                do i=1,size(paramset)
+                  if (associated(paramset(i)%param)) then
+                    if (size(paramset(i)%param)>0) then
+                      deallocate(paramset(i)%param)
+                      nullify(paramset(i)%param)
+                    endif
+                  endif
+                enddo
+                deallocate(paramset)
+                nullify(paramset)
+              endif
             endif
             num_pset = 0
             call read_xml()
diff --git a/io/post_regional.F90 b/io/post_regional.F90
index 34c6ffcd5..773e8dcc4 100644
--- a/io/post_regional.F90
+++ b/io/post_regional.F90
@@ -160,13 +160,17 @@ subroutine post_run_regional(wrt_int_state,mypei,mpicomp,lead_write,      &
             if(mype==0) print *,'af read_xml at fh00,name=',trim(filenameflat)
           else if(ifhr > 0) then
             filenameflat = 'postxconfig-NT.txt'
-            if(size(paramset)>0) then
-              do i=1,size(paramset)
-                if (size(paramset(i)%param)>0) then
-                  deallocate(paramset(i)%param)
-                  nullify(paramset(i)%param)
-                endif
-              enddo
+            if(associated(paramset)) then
+              if(size(paramset)>0) then
+                do i=1,size(paramset)
+                  if (associated(paramset(i)%param)) then
+                    if (size(paramset(i)%param)>0) then
+                      deallocate(paramset(i)%param)
+                      nullify(paramset(i)%param)
+                    endif
+                  endif
+                enddo
+              endif
               deallocate(paramset)
               nullify(paramset)
             endif