diff --git a/mediator/med_phases_ocnalb_mod.F90 b/mediator/med_phases_ocnalb_mod.F90
index 304d0c7f..ea0253a4 100644
--- a/mediator/med_phases_ocnalb_mod.F90
+++ b/mediator/med_phases_ocnalb_mod.F90
@@ -636,7 +636,7 @@ subroutine med_phases_ocnalb_orbital_update(clock, logunit,  maintask, eccen, ob
     integer           :: orb_year ! orbital year for current orbital computation
     character(len=CL) :: msgstr   ! temporary
     logical           :: lprint
-    logical           :: first_time = .true.
+    logical, save     :: first_time = .true.
     character(len=*) , parameter :: subname = "(med_phases_ocnalb_orbital_update)"
     !-------------------------------------------