diff --git a/config_src/nuopc_driver/mom_ocean_model_nuopc.F90 b/config_src/nuopc_driver/mom_ocean_model_nuopc.F90
index aabf456ca8..cbbb2261d0 100644
--- a/config_src/nuopc_driver/mom_ocean_model_nuopc.F90
+++ b/config_src/nuopc_driver/mom_ocean_model_nuopc.F90
@@ -671,7 +671,7 @@ subroutine update_ocean_model(Ice_ocean_boundary, OS, Ocean_sfc, &
 end subroutine update_ocean_model
 
 !> This subroutine writes out the ocean model restart file.
-subroutine ocean_model_restart(OS, timestamp, restartname)
+subroutine ocean_model_restart(OS, timestamp, restartname, num_rest_files)
   type(ocean_state_type),     pointer    :: OS !< A pointer to the structure containing the
                                                !! internal ocean state being saved to a restart file
   character(len=*), optional, intent(in) :: timestamp !< An optional timestamp string that should be
@@ -679,6 +679,7 @@ subroutine ocean_model_restart(OS, timestamp, restartname)
   character(len=*), optional, intent(in) :: restartname !< Name of restart file to use
                                                !! This option distinguishes the cesm interface from the
                                                !! non-cesm interface
+  integer, optional, intent(out)         :: num_rest_files !< number of restart files written
 
   if (.not.MOM_state_is_synchronized(OS%MOM_CSp)) &
       call MOM_error(WARNING, "End of MOM_main reached with inconsistent "//&
@@ -689,8 +690,13 @@ subroutine ocean_model_restart(OS, timestamp, restartname)
       "restart files can only be created after the buoyancy forcing is applied.")
 
   if (present(restartname)) then
-     call save_restart(OS%dirs%restart_output_dir, OS%Time, OS%grid, &
-          OS%restart_CSp, GV=OS%GV, filename=restartname)
+     if (present(num_rest_files)) then
+       call save_restart(OS%dirs%restart_output_dir, OS%Time, OS%grid, &
+            OS%restart_CSp, GV=OS%GV, filename=restartname, num_rest_files=num_rest_files)
+     else
+       call save_restart(OS%dirs%restart_output_dir, OS%Time, OS%grid, &
+            OS%restart_CSp, GV=OS%GV, filename=restartname)
+     endif
      call forcing_save_restart(OS%forcing_CSp, OS%grid, OS%Time, &
           OS%dirs%restart_output_dir) ! Is this needed?
      if (OS%use_ice_shelf) then