diff --git a/components/mpas-ocean/src/shared/mpas_ocn_tendency.F b/components/mpas-ocean/src/shared/mpas_ocn_tendency.F
index a16e52f14499..89cfa07ad2bf 100644
--- a/components/mpas-ocean/src/shared/mpas_ocn_tendency.F
+++ b/components/mpas-ocean/src/shared/mpas_ocn_tendency.F
@@ -419,7 +419,7 @@ subroutine ocn_tend_vel(domain, tendPool, statePool, forcingPool, &
                              vertAleTransportTop, tendVel, err)
 
       ! Add pressure gradient
-      call ocn_vel_pressure_grad_tend(ssh, pressure, surfacePressure, &
+      call ocn_vel_pressure_grad_tend(ssh, gradSSH, pressure, surfacePressure, &
                                montgomeryPotential, zMid, &
                                density, potentialDensity, &
                                indxTemp, indxSalt, activeTracers, &
diff --git a/components/mpas-ocean/src/shared/mpas_ocn_vel_pressure_grad.F b/components/mpas-ocean/src/shared/mpas_ocn_vel_pressure_grad.F
index b8f83cd01dce..f7e97aa13384 100644
--- a/components/mpas-ocean/src/shared/mpas_ocn_vel_pressure_grad.F
+++ b/components/mpas-ocean/src/shared/mpas_ocn_vel_pressure_grad.F
@@ -94,7 +94,7 @@ module ocn_vel_pressure_grad
 !
 !-----------------------------------------------------------------------
 
-   subroutine ocn_vel_pressure_grad_tend(ssh, pressure, surfacePressure, &
+   subroutine ocn_vel_pressure_grad_tend(ssh, gradSSH, pressure, surfacePressure, &
                                   montgomeryPotential, zMid, &
                                   density, potentialDensity, &
                                   indxT, indxS, tracers, &
@@ -113,6 +113,7 @@ subroutine ocn_vel_pressure_grad_tend(ssh, pressure, surfacePressure, &
 
       real (kind=RKIND), dimension(:), intent(in) :: &
          ssh,                &!< [in] sea surface height
+         gradSSH,            &!< [in] sea surface height gradient on edges
          surfacePressure      !< [in] surface pressure
 
       real (kind=RKIND), dimension(:,:), intent(in) :: &
@@ -241,7 +242,7 @@ subroutine ocn_vel_pressure_grad_tend(ssh, pressure, surfacePressure, &
                do k=kMin,kMax
                   tend(k,iEdge) = tend(k,iEdge) - &
                                   edgeMask(k,iEdge)*invdcEdge* &
-                                  (  gravity*(ssh(cell2) - ssh(cell1)) &
+                                  (  gravity*gradSSH(iEdge) &
                                    + density0Inv*(  surfacePressure(cell2) &
                                                   - surfacePressure(cell1)) )
                end do