diff --git a/fv3_cap.F90 b/fv3_cap.F90
index eaf20577f..ae22c82b4 100644
--- a/fv3_cap.F90
+++ b/fv3_cap.F90
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ module fv3gfs_cap_mod
 
   type(ESMF_GridComp)                         :: fcstComp
   type(ESMF_State)                            :: fcstState
-  character(len=80),         allocatable      :: fcstItemNameList(:)
+  character(len=esmf_maxstr),allocatable :: fcstItemNameList(:)
   type(ESMF_StateItem_Flag), allocatable      :: fcstItemTypeList(:)
   type(ESMF_FieldBundle),    allocatable      :: fcstFB(:)
   integer, save                               :: FBCount
diff --git a/io/module_fv3_io_def.F90 b/io/module_fv3_io_def.F90
index d039ccc73..f15161886 100644
--- a/io/module_fv3_io_def.F90
+++ b/io/module_fv3_io_def.F90
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ module module_fv3_io_def
 !
 !------------------------------------------------------------------------
 !
+  use esmf, only     : esmf_maxstr
   implicit none
 !
   integer           :: num_pes_fcst
@@ -15,14 +16,14 @@ module module_fv3_io_def
   logical           :: write_nemsioflip
   logical           :: write_fsyncflag
   integer           :: num_files
-  character(255)    :: output_grid
-  character(255)    :: output_file
+  character(len=esmf_maxstr)    :: output_grid
+  character(len=esmf_maxstr)    :: output_file
   integer           :: imo,jmo
   integer           :: nbdlphys
   integer           :: nsout_io, iau_offset, ideflate, nbits
   real              :: cen_lon, cen_lat, lon1, lat1, lon2, lat2, dlon, dlat
   real              :: stdlat1, stdlat2, dx, dy
-  character(255),dimension(:),allocatable :: filename_base
+  character(len=esmf_maxstr),dimension(:),allocatable :: filename_base
 !
   integer,dimension(:),allocatable     :: lead_wrttask, last_wrttask
 !
diff --git a/io/module_wrt_grid_comp.F90 b/io/module_wrt_grid_comp.F90
index d0846be53..9449da701 100644
--- a/io/module_wrt_grid_comp.F90
+++ b/io/module_wrt_grid_comp.F90
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ module module_wrt_grid_comp
 !
 !-----------------------------------------------------------------------
 !
-      integer,parameter :: filename_maxstr=255
+
       real, parameter   :: rdgas=287.04, grav=9.80
       real, parameter   :: stndrd_atmos_ps = 101325.
       real, parameter   :: stndrd_atmos_lapse = 0.0065
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ module module_wrt_grid_comp
       type(wrt_internal_state),pointer :: wrt_int_state                 ! The internal state pointer.
       type(ESMF_FieldBundle)           :: gridFB
       integer                          :: FBcount
-      character(len=80),allocatable    :: fcstItemNameList(:)
+      character(len=esmf_maxstr),allocatable    :: fcstItemNameList(:)
 !
 !-----------------------------------------------------------------------
       REAL(KIND=8)             :: btim,btim0
@@ -1155,7 +1155,7 @@ subroutine wrt_run(wrt_comp, imp_state_write, exp_state_write,clock,rc)
       logical,save                          :: first=.true.
       logical,save                          :: file_first=.true.
 !
-      character(filename_maxstr)            :: filename,compname,bundle_name
+      character(esmf_maxstr)            :: filename,compname,bundle_name
       character(40)                         :: cfhour, cform
       character(10)                         :: stepString
       character(80)                         :: attrValueS
diff --git a/module_fcst_grid_comp.F90 b/module_fcst_grid_comp.F90
index 9dfcbc751..91a2902b4 100644
--- a/module_fcst_grid_comp.F90
+++ b/module_fcst_grid_comp.F90
@@ -189,7 +189,8 @@ subroutine fcst_initialize(fcst_comp, importState, exportState, clock, rc)
     character(3) cfhour
     character(4) dateSY
     character(2) dateSM,dateSD,dateSH,dateSN,dateSS
-    character(128) name_FB, name_FB1, dateS
+    character(len=esmf_maxstr) name_FB, name_FB1
+    character(len=80) :: dateS
     real,    allocatable, dimension(:,:) :: glon_bnd, glat_bnd
     
     character(256)                         :: gridfile