diff --git a/src/optim/mepgs/mepgs_drv.F b/src/optim/mepgs/mepgs_drv.F
index 8cd5e12b5f..aa6ec41313 100644
--- a/src/optim/mepgs/mepgs_drv.F
+++ b/src/optim/mepgs/mepgs_drv.F
@@ -982,6 +982,7 @@ c
       stpang = mepgs_cosang(abvec, bcvec, .true.)
 c
       grms = 0d0
+c      ogrms = 0d0
       srms = 0d0
       gmax  = 0d0
       smax  = 0d0