diff --git a/src/framework/unit_tests/MOM_file_parser_tests.F90 b/src/framework/unit_tests/MOM_file_parser_tests.F90
index 106acbec1d..a5d83d8ee5 100644
--- a/src/framework/unit_tests/MOM_file_parser_tests.F90
+++ b/src/framework/unit_tests/MOM_file_parser_tests.F90
@@ -1305,6 +1305,7 @@ subroutine test_log_param_time_as_date
   close(param_unit)
 
   call open_param_file(param_filename, param)
+  sample = set_date(1980, 1, 1, 0, 0, 0)
   call log_param(param, module_name, sample_param_name, sample, desc=desc, &
       log_date=.true.)
   call close_param_file(param)