diff --git a/python/ctsm/subset_data.py b/python/ctsm/subset_data.py
index a1b8d21c15..86f1b051c3 100644
--- a/python/ctsm/subset_data.py
+++ b/python/ctsm/subset_data.py
@@ -54,11 +54,11 @@
 # -- standard libraries
 import os
 import logging
-import argparse
 import textwrap
 import configparser
 
 from getpass import getuser
+import argparse
 from argparse import ArgumentParser
 
 # -- import local classes for this script