diff --git a/parm/config/gefs/config.ufs b/parm/config/gefs/config.ufs
index 4cf6fda57d..9c392465ca 100644
--- a/parm/config/gefs/config.ufs
+++ b/parm/config/gefs/config.ufs
@@ -487,4 +487,9 @@ case "${model_list}" in
     ;;
 esac
 
+if [[ ! -r ${ufs_configure_template} ]]; then
+  echo "FATAL ERROR: ${ufs_configure_template} either doesn't exist or is not readable."
+  exit 17
+fi
+
 echo "END: config.ufs"
diff --git a/parm/config/gfs/config.ufs b/parm/config/gfs/config.ufs
index 29b421860a..3aab9cff82 100644
--- a/parm/config/gfs/config.ufs
+++ b/parm/config/gfs/config.ufs
@@ -507,4 +507,9 @@ case "${model_list}" in
     ;;
 esac
 
+if [[ ! -r ${ufs_configure_template} ]]; then
+  echo "FATAL ERROR: ${ufs_configure_template} either doesn't exist or is not readable."
+  exit 17
+fi
+
 echo "END: config.ufs"
diff --git a/scripts/exglobal_forecast.sh b/scripts/exglobal_forecast.sh
index 86cea85dee..ff0e159dec 100755
--- a/scripts/exglobal_forecast.sh
+++ b/scripts/exglobal_forecast.sh
@@ -80,16 +80,12 @@
 source "${HOMEgfs}/ush/preamble.sh"
 
 # include all subroutines. Executions later.
-source "${HOMEgfs}/ush/cplvalidate.sh"	# validation of cpl*
 source "${HOMEgfs}/ush/forecast_predet.sh"	# include functions for variable definition
 source "${HOMEgfs}/ush/forecast_det.sh"  # include functions for run type determination
 source "${HOMEgfs}/ush/forecast_postdet.sh"	# include functions for variables after run type determination
 source "${HOMEgfs}/ush/nems_configure.sh"	# include functions for nems_configure processing
 source "${HOMEgfs}/ush/parsing_model_configure_FV3.sh"
 
-# Compset string. For nems.configure.* template selection. Default ATM only
-confignamevarfornems=${confignamevarfornems:-'atm'}
-
 # Coupling control switches, for coupling purpose, off by default
 cpl=${cpl:-.false.}
 cplflx=${cplflx:-.false.} # default off,import from outside source
@@ -104,10 +100,6 @@ ICETIM=${DELTIM}
 CPL_SLOW=${CPL_SLOW:-${OCNTIM}}
 CPL_FAST=${CPL_FAST:-${ICETIM}}
 
-echo "MAIN: Validating '${confignamevarfornems}' with cpl switches"
-cplvalidate
-echo "MAIN: '${confignamevarfornems}' validated, continue"
-
 echo "MAIN: Loading common variables before determination of run type"
 common_predet
 
diff --git a/ush/cplvalidate.sh b/ush/cplvalidate.sh
deleted file mode 100755
index 168bd0ff53..0000000000
--- a/ush/cplvalidate.sh
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,39 +0,0 @@
-#! /usr/bin/env bash
-
-#####
-## This script validates $confignamevarfornems
-## against cpl** switches to check consistency
-##
-## This is a child script of modular
-## forecast script. This script is a direct execution
-#####
-
-cplvalidate(){
-echo "SUB cplvalidate: validating cpl** switches for ${confignamevarfornems}"
-return  # TODO: Why are we returning right here?
-case ${confignamevarfornems} in
-  'atm') combination=.false..false..false..false..false.;;
-  'datm') combination=.true..true..false..false..false.;;
-  'atm_aero') combination=.true..false..false..false..true.;;
-  'med_atm_ocn_ice') combination=.true..true..true..false..false.;;
-  'cpld') combination=.true..true..true..false..false.;;
-  'blocked_atm_wav') combination=.true..false..false..true..false.;;
-  'leapfrog_atm_wav')combination=.true..false..false..true..false.;;
-  'med_atm_ocn_ice_wav') combination=.true..true..true..true..false.;;
-  'cpld_wave') combination=.true..true..true..true..false.;;
-  'cpld_aero_wave') combination=.true..true..true..true..true.;;
-  'medcold_atm_ocn_ice_wav') combination=.true..true..true..true..false.;;
-  'med_atm_ocn_ice_wav1way') combination=.true..true..true..true..false.;;
-  'med_atm_ocn_ice_wav1waywcurr') combination=.true..true..true..true..false.;;
-  'medcold_atm_ocn_ice') combination=.true..true..true..false..false.;;
-  *) echo "SUB cplvalidate: Combination not supported"
-  exit 1 ;;
-esac
-control="${cpl}${cplflx}${cplice}${cplwav}${cplchm}"
-if [[ "${control}" != "${combination}" ]]; then
-  echo "SUB cplvalidate: inconsistent cpl setting!"
-  exit 2
-else
-  echo "SUB cplvalidate: cpl settings validated!"
-fi
-}