diff --git a/model/fv_control.F90 b/model/fv_control.F90
index 7f900f23e..a0713b903 100644
--- a/model/fv_control.F90
+++ b/model/fv_control.F90
@@ -184,12 +184,15 @@ module fv_control_mod
 
 !-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
-   subroutine fv_control_init(Atm, dt_atmos, this_grid, grids_on_this_pe, p_split)
+   subroutine fv_control_init(Atm, dt_atmos, this_grid, grids_on_this_pe, p_split, &
+                              nml_filename_in, skip_nml_read_in)
 
      type(fv_atmos_type), allocatable, intent(inout), target :: Atm(:)
      real,                intent(in)    :: dt_atmos
      integer,             intent(OUT)   :: this_grid
      logical, allocatable, intent(OUT) :: grids_on_this_pe(:)
+     character(len=32), optional,      intent(in)    :: nml_filename_in ! alternate nml 
+     logical, optional,                intent(in)    :: skip_nml_read_in ! use previously loaded nml
 
      integer, intent(INOUT) :: p_split
      character(100) :: pe_list_name, errstring
@@ -214,6 +217,9 @@ subroutine fv_control_init(Atm, dt_atmos, this_grid, grids_on_this_pe, p_split)
      real :: sdt
      integer :: unit, ens_root_pe, tile_id(1)
 
+     character(len=32) :: nml_filename = 'input.nml'
+     logical :: skip_nml_read = .false.
+
      !!!!!!!!!! POINTERS FOR READING NAMELISTS !!!!!!!!!!
 
      !------------------------------------------
@@ -408,6 +414,9 @@ subroutine fv_control_init(Atm, dt_atmos, this_grid, grids_on_this_pe, p_split)
      call mp_assign_gid
      ens_root_pe = mpp_root_pe()
 
+     if (present(nml_filename_in)) nml_filename = nml_filename_in
+     if (present(skip_nml_read_in)) skip_nml_read = skip_nml_read_in
+
      ! 1. read nesting namelists
      call read_namelist_nest_nml
      call read_namelist_fv_nest_nml
@@ -482,9 +491,10 @@ subroutine fv_control_init(Atm, dt_atmos, this_grid, grids_on_this_pe, p_split)
         if (n > 1) then
            Atm(n)%nml_filename = 'input_'//trim(pe_list_name)//'.nml'
         else
-           Atm(n)%nml_filename = 'input.nml'
+!          Atm(n)%nml_filename = 'input.nml'
+           Atm(n)%nml_filename = trim(nml_filename)
         endif
-        if (.not. file_exists(Atm(n)%nml_filename)) then
+        if (.not. file_exists(Atm(n)%nml_filename) .and. .not. skip_nml_read) then
            call mpp_error(FATAL, "Could not find nested grid namelist "//Atm(n)%nml_filename)
         endif
      enddo
@@ -550,7 +560,9 @@ subroutine fv_control_init(Atm, dt_atmos, this_grid, grids_on_this_pe, p_split)
      else
         Atm(this_grid)%nml_filename = ''
      endif
-     call read_input_nml(Atm(this_grid)%nml_filename) !re-reads into internal namelist
+     if (.not. skip_nml_read) then
+       call read_input_nml(Atm(this_grid)%nml_filename) !re-reads into internal namelist
+     endif
 #endif
      call read_namelist_fv_grid_nml
      call read_namelist_fv_core_nml(Atm(this_grid)) ! do options processing here too?