diff --git a/cicecore/drivers/nuopc/cmeps/ice_import_export.F90 b/cicecore/drivers/nuopc/cmeps/ice_import_export.F90
index c252b05a1..49d8adf8e 100644
--- a/cicecore/drivers/nuopc/cmeps/ice_import_export.F90
+++ b/cicecore/drivers/nuopc/cmeps/ice_import_export.F90
@@ -1153,7 +1153,7 @@ subroutine ice_export( exportState, rc )
        jhi = this_block%jhi
        do j = jlo, jhi
           do i = ilo, ihi
-             if ( tmask(i,j,iblk) .and. ailohi(i,j,iblk) > c0 ) then
+             if ( tmask(i,j,iblk) .and. ailohi(i,j,iblk) > puny ) then
                 tempfld(i,j,iblk) = vsno(i,j,iblk)/ailohi(i,j,iblk)
              end if
           end do