diff --git a/src/netcdf_io/calc_analysis.fd/init_calc_analysis.f90 b/src/netcdf_io/calc_analysis.fd/init_calc_analysis.f90
index d3832900..a25bb413 100644
--- a/src/netcdf_io/calc_analysis.fd/init_calc_analysis.f90
+++ b/src/netcdf_io/calc_analysis.fd/init_calc_analysis.f90
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ subroutine read_nml
 
     fhr = 6 ! default to 6 hour cycle only
     use_nemsio_anl = .false. ! default to using netCDF for background and analysis
+    do_aero = .false. ! default to only do atm, not aero also
     jedi = .false. ! default to GSI (not JEDI)
 
     ! read in the namelist