diff --git a/src/gsi/cplr_get_fv3_regional_ensperts.f90 b/src/gsi/cplr_get_fv3_regional_ensperts.f90
index 5a3e72970d..5b8fb153b6 100644
--- a/src/gsi/cplr_get_fv3_regional_ensperts.f90
+++ b/src/gsi/cplr_get_fv3_regional_ensperts.f90
@@ -684,7 +684,6 @@ subroutine get_fv3_regional_ensperts_run(this,en_perts,nelen,ps_bar)
 
     enddo ! it 4d loop
  ! CALCULATE ENSEMBLE SPREAD
-    write_ens_sprd=.true.
     if(write_ens_sprd ) then
         call this%ens_spread_dualres_regional(mype,en_perts,nelen)
         call mpi_barrier(mpi_comm_world,ierror) ! do we need this mpi_barrier here?