diff --git a/experiments/AMIP/modular/components/land/bucket_init.jl b/experiments/AMIP/modular/components/land/bucket_init.jl
index 654827737..dd52437fc 100644
--- a/experiments/AMIP/modular/components/land/bucket_init.jl
+++ b/experiments/AMIP/modular/components/land/bucket_init.jl
@@ -188,6 +188,10 @@ function bucket_init(
     α_snow = FT(0.8) # snow albedo
     if albedo_type == "map_static" # Read in albedo from static data file (default type)
         # By default, this uses a file containing bareground albedo without a time component. Snow albedo is specified separately.
+        if ClimaComms.iamroot(comms_ctx)
+            albedo = BulkAlbedoStatic{FT}(regrid_dirpath, α_snow = α_snow, comms = comms_ctx)
+        end
+        ClimaComms.barrier(comms_ctx)
         albedo = BulkAlbedoStatic{FT}(regrid_dirpath, α_snow = α_snow, comms = comms_ctx)
     elseif albedo_type == "map_temporal" # Read in albedo from data file containing data over time
         # By default, this uses a file containing linearly-interpolated monthly data of total albedo, generated by CESM2's land model (CLM).