diff --git a/cime_config/buildnml b/cime_config/buildnml
index 0a18e35e50..a350b297af 100755
--- a/cime_config/buildnml
+++ b/cime_config/buildnml
@@ -117,7 +117,7 @@ def _create_namelists(case, confdir, infile, nmlgen):
         ice_ic = "%s.cice.r.%s-%s.nc" %(run_refcase, run_refdate, run_tod)
         nmlgen.add_default("ice_ic", value=ice_ic, ignore_abs_path=True)
     else:
-        nmlgen.add_default("ice_ic")
+        nmlgen.add_default("ice_ic", ignore_abs_path=True)
         if nmlgen.get_value('ice_ic') == 'UNSET':
             nmlgen.set_value('ice_ic', value="default")