diff --git a/cicecore/drivers/direct/nemo_concepts/CICE_InitMod.F90 b/cicecore/drivers/direct/nemo_concepts/CICE_InitMod.F90
index 85050d8c9..3a8f5e33d 100644
--- a/cicecore/drivers/direct/nemo_concepts/CICE_InitMod.F90
+++ b/cicecore/drivers/direct/nemo_concepts/CICE_InitMod.F90
@@ -185,6 +185,8 @@ subroutine cice_init
       if (trim(runtype) == 'continue' .or. restart) &
          call init_shortwave    ! initialize radiative transfer
 
+      if (write_ic) call accum_hist(dt) ! write initial conditions
+
       ! determine the time and date at the end of the first timestep
       call advance_timestep()
 
@@ -215,8 +217,6 @@ subroutine cice_init
       call init_flux_atm        ! initialize atmosphere fluxes sent to coupler
       call init_flux_ocn        ! initialize ocean fluxes sent to coupler
 
-      if (write_ic) call accum_hist(dt) ! write initial conditions
-
       end subroutine cice_init
 
 !=======================================================================
diff --git a/cicecore/drivers/standalone/cice/CICE_InitMod.F90 b/cicecore/drivers/standalone/cice/CICE_InitMod.F90
index 8de05a121..0371c7f38 100644
--- a/cicecore/drivers/standalone/cice/CICE_InitMod.F90
+++ b/cicecore/drivers/standalone/cice/CICE_InitMod.F90
@@ -199,6 +199,8 @@ subroutine cice_init
       if (trim(runtype) == 'continue' .or. restart) &
          call init_shortwave    ! initialize radiative transfer
 
+      if (write_ic) call accum_hist(dt) ! write initial conditions
+
 ! tcraig, use advance_timestep here
 !      istep  = istep  + 1    ! update time step counters
 !      istep1 = istep1 + 1
@@ -243,8 +245,6 @@ subroutine cice_init
       call init_flux_atm        ! initialize atmosphere fluxes sent to coupler
       call init_flux_ocn        ! initialize ocean fluxes sent to coupler
 
-      if (write_ic) call accum_hist(dt) ! write initial conditions
-
       if (my_task == master_task) then
          call ice_memusage_print(nu_diag,subname//':end')
       endif