diff --git a/config_src/infra/FMS1/MOM_domain_infra.F90 b/config_src/infra/FMS1/MOM_domain_infra.F90
index 7c3424ca15..fc39777a2f 100644
--- a/config_src/infra/FMS1/MOM_domain_infra.F90
+++ b/config_src/infra/FMS1/MOM_domain_infra.F90
@@ -1689,6 +1689,8 @@ subroutine clone_MD_to_d2D(MD_in, mpp_domain, min_halo, halo_size, symmetric, &
   if ((MD_in%io_layout(1) + MD_in%io_layout(2) > 0) .and. &
       (MD_in%layout(1)*MD_in%layout(2) > 1)) then
     call mpp_define_io_domain(mpp_domain, MD_in%io_layout)
+  else
+    call mpp_define_io_domain(mpp_domain, (/ 1, 1 /) )
   endif
 
 end subroutine clone_MD_to_d2D
diff --git a/config_src/infra/FMS2/MOM_domain_infra.F90 b/config_src/infra/FMS2/MOM_domain_infra.F90
index 7c3424ca15..fc39777a2f 100644
--- a/config_src/infra/FMS2/MOM_domain_infra.F90
+++ b/config_src/infra/FMS2/MOM_domain_infra.F90
@@ -1689,6 +1689,8 @@ subroutine clone_MD_to_d2D(MD_in, mpp_domain, min_halo, halo_size, symmetric, &
   if ((MD_in%io_layout(1) + MD_in%io_layout(2) > 0) .and. &
       (MD_in%layout(1)*MD_in%layout(2) > 1)) then
     call mpp_define_io_domain(mpp_domain, MD_in%io_layout)
+  else
+    call mpp_define_io_domain(mpp_domain, (/ 1, 1 /) )
   endif
 
 end subroutine clone_MD_to_d2D