diff --git a/src/core_init_atmosphere/mpas_init_atm_cases.F b/src/core_init_atmosphere/mpas_init_atm_cases.F
index e3e1ba56ea..fdd3769156 100644
--- a/src/core_init_atmosphere/mpas_init_atm_cases.F
+++ b/src/core_init_atmosphere/mpas_init_atm_cases.F
@@ -3547,6 +3547,7 @@ subroutine init_atm_case_gfs(block, mesh, nCells, nEdges, nVertLevels, fg, state
                ! many unique levels are found using the code above
                !
                if (too_many_fg_levs) then
+                  deallocate(field % slab)
                   call read_next_met_field(field, istatus)
                   cycle
                end if
@@ -5283,6 +5284,7 @@ subroutine init_atm_case_lbc(timestamp, block, mesh, nCells, nEdges, nVertLevels
                ! many unique levels are found using the code above
                !
                if (too_many_fg_levs) then
+                  deallocate(field % slab)
                   call read_next_met_field(field, istatus)
                   cycle
                end if