diff --git a/payu/models/cesm_cmeps.py b/payu/models/cesm_cmeps.py
index e6d18609..fa3d18ed 100644
--- a/payu/models/cesm_cmeps.py
+++ b/payu/models/cesm_cmeps.py
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@
     },
     "ww3dev": {
         "config_files": ["wav_in"],
+        "optional_config_files" : ["ww3_shel.nml"]
     },
     "datm": {
         "config_files": [