diff --git a/config_src/drivers/nuopc_cap/mom_cap.F90 b/config_src/drivers/nuopc_cap/mom_cap.F90
index c96c98cdd4..7dc95e13fa 100644
--- a/config_src/drivers/nuopc_cap/mom_cap.F90
+++ b/config_src/drivers/nuopc_cap/mom_cap.F90
@@ -136,7 +136,7 @@ module MOM_cap_mod
 logical              :: profile_memory = .true.
 logical              :: grid_attach_area = .false.
 logical              :: use_coldstart = .true.
-logical              :: use_mommesh = .false.
+logical              :: use_mommesh = .true.
 character(len=128)   :: scalar_field_name = ''
 integer              :: scalar_field_count = 0
 integer              :: scalar_field_idx_grid_nx = 0
@@ -349,7 +349,7 @@ subroutine InitializeP0(gcomp, importState, exportState, clock, rc)
   write(logmsg,*) use_coldstart
   call ESMF_LogWrite('MOM_cap:use_coldstart = '//trim(logmsg), ESMF_LOGMSG_INFO)
 
-  use_mommesh = .false.
+  use_mommesh = .true.
   call NUOPC_CompAttributeGet(gcomp, name="use_mommesh", value=value, &
        isPresent=isPresent, isSet=isSet, rc=rc)
   if (ChkErr(rc,__LINE__,u_FILE_u)) return