diff --git a/src/ice_shelf/MOM_ice_shelf.F90 b/src/ice_shelf/MOM_ice_shelf.F90
index 38739df2dd..18f079710f 100644
--- a/src/ice_shelf/MOM_ice_shelf.F90
+++ b/src/ice_shelf/MOM_ice_shelf.F90
@@ -1998,13 +1998,11 @@ subroutine initialize_ice_shelf(param_file, ocn_grid, Time, CS, diag, Time_init,
   if (CS%active_shelf_dynamics) then
     CS%id_h_mask = register_diag_field('ice_shelf_model', 'h_mask', CS%diag%axesT1, CS%Time, &
        'ice shelf thickness mask', 'none', conversion=1.0)
-    CS%id_shelf_sfc_mass_flux = register_diag_field('ice_shelf_model', 'sfc_mass_flux', CS%diag%axesT1, CS%Time, &
-       'ice shelf surface mass flux deposition from atmosphere', &
-       'kg m-2 s-1', conversion=US%RZ_T_to_kg_m2s)
   endif
+
   CS%id_shelf_sfc_mass_flux = register_diag_field('ice_shelf_model', 'sfc_mass_flux', CS%diag%axesT1, CS%Time, &
-      'ice shelf surface mass flux deposition from atmosphere', &
-      'kg m-2 s-1', conversion=US%RZ_T_to_kg_m2s)
+     'ice shelf surface mass flux deposition from atmosphere', &
+     'kg m-2 s-1', conversion=US%RZ_T_to_kg_m2s)
 
   ! Scalars (area integrated over all ice sheets)
   CS%id_vaf = register_scalar_field('ice_shelf_model', 'int_vaf', CS%diag%axesT1, CS%Time, &