diff --git a/scripts/python/packages/parthenon_tools/parthenon_tools/phdf_diff.py b/scripts/python/packages/parthenon_tools/parthenon_tools/phdf_diff.py
index 5a3089691ef5..9580c8e32a9c 100644
--- a/scripts/python/packages/parthenon_tools/parthenon_tools/phdf_diff.py
+++ b/scripts/python/packages/parthenon_tools/parthenon_tools/phdf_diff.py
@@ -123,6 +123,8 @@ def compare_attribute_group(f0, f1, name):
       else:
           print('  %20s: no diffs' % name)
 
+    return got_diffs
+
 
 def compare_metadata(f0, f1, quiet=False, one=False, tol=1.0e-12):
     """ compares metadata of two hdf files f0 and f1. Returns 0 if the files are equivalent.
@@ -217,7 +219,7 @@ def compare_metadata(f0, f1, quiet=False, one=False, tol=1.0e-12):
                     if not quiet: print("")
                 else:
                     print('  %18s/%s: no diffs'%(var,key))
-        if var in ['LogicalLocations', 'Levels']:
+        if var in ['LogicalLocations', 'Levels', 'SparseInfo']:
             #Compare raw data of these variables
             val0 = np.array(f0.fid[var])
             val1 = np.array(f1.fid[var])