diff --git a/repos/c2sm/packages/icon/package.py b/repos/c2sm/packages/icon/package.py
index 738ac17794..96c5582f49 100755
--- a/repos/c2sm/packages/icon/package.py
+++ b/repos/c2sm/packages/icon/package.py
@@ -483,9 +483,7 @@ def configure_args(self):
         libs += self.spec['lapack:fortran'].libs
         libs += self.spec['blas:fortran'].libs
         libs += self.spec['netcdf-fortran'].libs
-
-        if '+coupling' in self.spec:
-            libs += self.spec['netcdf-c'].libs
+        libs += self.spec['netcdf-c'].libs
 
         if '+emvorado' in self.spec:
             libs += self.spec['hdf5:fortran,hl'].libs