diff --git a/AtmOcnScalarProto/atm.F90 b/AtmOcnScalarProto/atm.F90
index f607a68..5a80f79 100644
--- a/AtmOcnScalarProto/atm.F90
+++ b/AtmOcnScalarProto/atm.F90
@@ -307,9 +307,9 @@ subroutine Advance(model, rc)
       file=__FILE__)) &
       return  ! bail out
     ! access the scalars through a 1D array
-    scalars => fptr(:,1)
     if (size(fptr)>0) then
       ! only use fptr on that PET which holds allocation
+      scalars => fptr(:,1)
       do i=lbound(scalars,1), ubound(scalars,1)
         scalars(i)=(i-1)*10+step
       enddo