diff --git a/config_src/drivers/nuopc_cap/mom_cap.F90 b/config_src/drivers/nuopc_cap/mom_cap.F90
index d2dcf96067..eab4191308 100644
--- a/config_src/drivers/nuopc_cap/mom_cap.F90
+++ b/config_src/drivers/nuopc_cap/mom_cap.F90
@@ -2370,6 +2370,11 @@ subroutine SetScalarField(field, rc)
          ungriddedLBound=(/1/), ungriddedUBound=(/scalar_field_count/), gridToFieldMap=(/2/), rc=rc)
     if (ChkErr(rc,__LINE__,u_FILE_u)) return
 
+    ! initialize fldptr to zero
+    call ESMF_FieldGet(field, farrayPtr=fldptr2d, rc=rc)
+    if (ChkErr(rc,__LINE__,u_FILE_u)) return
+    fldptr2d(:,:) = 0.0
+
   end subroutine SetScalarField
 
 end subroutine MOM_RealizeFields