diff --git a/src/main/clm_initializeMod.F90 b/src/main/clm_initializeMod.F90
index 9bf0cc59a2..6e80869833 100644
--- a/src/main/clm_initializeMod.F90
+++ b/src/main/clm_initializeMod.F90
@@ -174,7 +174,7 @@ subroutine initialize2(ni,nj)
     use SatellitePhenologyMod         , only : SatellitePhenologyInit, readAnnualVegetation, interpMonthlyVeg, SatellitePhenology
     use SnowSnicarMod                 , only : SnowAge_init, SnowOptics_init
     use lnd2atmMod                    , only : lnd2atm_minimal
-    use controlMod                    , only : NLFilename
+    use controlMod                    , only : NLFilename, check_missing_initdata_status
     use clm_instMod                   , only : clm_fates
     use BalanceCheckMod               , only : BalanceCheckInit
     use CNSharedParamsMod             , only : CNParamsSetSoilDepth
@@ -520,17 +520,7 @@ subroutine initialize2(ni,nj)
        else
           if (trim(finidat) == trim(finidat_interp_dest)) then
              ! Check to see if status file for finidat exists
-             klen = len_trim(finidat_interp_dest) - 3 ! remove the .nc
-             locfn = finidat_interp_dest(1:klen)//'.status'
-             inquire(file=trim(locfn), exist=lexists)
-             if (.not. lexists) then
-                if (masterproc) then
-                   write(iulog,'(a)')' failed to find file '//trim(locfn)
-                   write(iulog,'(a)')' this indicates a problem in creating '//trim(finidat_interp_dest)
-                   write(iulog,'(a)')' remove '//trim(finidat_interp_dest)//' and try again'
-                end if
-                call endrun()
-             end if
+             call check_missing_initdata_status(finidat_interp_dest)
           end if
           if (masterproc) then
              write(iulog,'(a)')'Reading initial conditions from file '//trim(finidat)
diff --git a/src/main/controlMod.F90 b/src/main/controlMod.F90
index f876e97176..1af68b0af6 100644
--- a/src/main/controlMod.F90
+++ b/src/main/controlMod.F90
@@ -59,6 +59,7 @@ module controlMod
   public :: control_setNL ! Set namelist filename
   public :: control_init  ! initial run control information
   public :: control_print ! print run control information
+  public :: check_missing_initdata_status  ! check for missing finidat_interp_dest .status file
   !
   !
   ! !PRIVATE MEMBER FUNCTIONS:
@@ -1221,6 +1222,38 @@ subroutine control_print ()
   end subroutine control_print
 
 
+  !-----------------------------------------------------------------------
+  subroutine check_missing_initdata_status(finidat_interp_dest)
+   !
+   ! !DESCRIPTION:
+   ! Checks that the finidat_interp_dest .status file was written (i.e., that write of
+   ! finidat_interp_dest succeeded)
+   !
+   ! !ARGUMENTS:
+   character(len=*), intent(in)    :: finidat_interp_dest
+   !
+   ! !LOCAL VARIABLES:
+   logical                    :: lexists
+   integer                    :: klen
+   character(len=SHR_KIND_CL) :: status_file
+   character(len=*), parameter :: subname = 'check_missing_initdata_status'
+   !-----------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+    klen = len_trim(finidat_interp_dest) - 3 ! remove the .nc
+    status_file = finidat_interp_dest(1:klen)//'.status'
+    inquire(file=trim(status_file), exist=lexists)
+    if (.not. lexists) then
+       if (masterproc) then
+          write(iulog,'(a)')' failed to find file '//trim(status_file)
+          write(iulog,'(a)')' this indicates a problem in creating '//trim(finidat_interp_dest)
+          write(iulog,'(a)')' remove '//trim(finidat_interp_dest)//' and try again'
+       end if
+       call endrun(subname//': finidat_interp_dest file exists but is probably bad')
+    end if
+
+  end subroutine check_missing_initdata_status
+
+
   !-----------------------------------------------------------------------
   subroutine apply_use_init_interp(finidat_interp_dest, finidat, finidat_interp_source)
     !
@@ -1271,6 +1304,10 @@ subroutine apply_use_init_interp(finidat_interp_dest, finidat, finidat_interp_so
 
     inquire(file=trim(finidat_interp_dest), exist=lexists)
     if (lexists) then
+
+       ! Check that the status file also exists (i.e., that finidat_interp_dest was written successfully)
+       call check_missing_initdata_status(finidat_interp_dest)
+
        ! open the input file and check for the name of the input source file
        status = nf90_open(trim(finidat_interp_dest), 0, ncid)
        if (status /= nf90_noerr) call handle_err(status)