diff --git a/mpp/include/mpp_util_mpi.inc b/mpp/include/mpp_util_mpi.inc
index f3b18518d1..d8eba7e68b 100644
--- a/mpp/include/mpp_util_mpi.inc
+++ b/mpp/include/mpp_util_mpi.inc
@@ -54,6 +54,7 @@ subroutine mpp_error_basic( errortype, errormsg )
      text_errortype = 'WARNING: non-existent errortype (must be NOTE|WARNING|FATAL)'
   end select
 
+  text = text_errortype
   if( npes.GT.1 ) write( text,'(a,i6)' ) trim(text_errortype) // ' from PE', pe   !this is the mpp part
   if( PRESENT(errormsg) )text = trim(text) // ': ' // trim(errormsg)
 !$OMP CRITICAL (MPP_ERROR_CRITICAL)