diff --git a/internal/tests/pytests/wrappers/pcp_combine/test_pcp_combine_wrapper.py b/internal/tests/pytests/wrappers/pcp_combine/test_pcp_combine_wrapper.py
index 725278c393..19be7d9b24 100644
--- a/internal/tests/pytests/wrappers/pcp_combine/test_pcp_combine_wrapper.py
+++ b/internal/tests/pytests/wrappers/pcp_combine/test_pcp_combine_wrapper.py
@@ -189,13 +189,23 @@ def test_setup_sum_method(metplus_config):
     assert pcw.setup_sum_method(time_info, lookback, data_src)
 
 
+@pytest.mark.parametrize(
+    'custom', [
+        False, True,
+    ]
+)
 @pytest.mark.wrapper
-def test_setup_subtract_method(metplus_config):
+def test_setup_subtract_method(metplus_config, custom):
     data_src = "FCST"
     pcw = pcp_combine_wrapper(metplus_config, data_src)
     task_info = {}
     task_info['valid'] = datetime.strptime("201609050000", '%Y%m%d%H%M')
     task_info['lead_hours'] = 9
+    if custom:
+        task_info['custom'] = 'file'
+        temp = pcw.config.getraw('config', 'FCST_PCP_COMBINE_INPUT_TEMPLATE')
+        temp = temp.replace('file.', '{custom}.')
+        pcw.config.set('config', 'FCST_PCP_COMBINE_INPUT_TEMPLATE', temp)
     time_info = ti_calculate(task_info)
     lookback = 6 * 3600
     files_found = pcw.setup_subtract_method(time_info, lookback, data_src)
diff --git a/metplus/wrappers/pcp_combine_wrapper.py b/metplus/wrappers/pcp_combine_wrapper.py
index 8afbc171a6..8f476647b0 100755
--- a/metplus/wrappers/pcp_combine_wrapper.py
+++ b/metplus/wrappers/pcp_combine_wrapper.py
@@ -391,8 +391,7 @@ def setup_subtract_method(self, time_info, accum, data_src):
                        'lead': lead2}
         time_info2 = ti_calculate(input_dict2)
         time_info2['level'] = accum
-        if hasattr(time_info, 'custom'):
-            time_info2['custom'] = time_info['custom']
+        time_info2['custom'] = time_info.get('custom', '')
 
         filepath2 = do_string_sub(full_template, **time_info2)
         file2 = util.preprocess_file(filepath2,