diff --git a/sorc/ncep_post.fd/INITPOST_NETCDF.f b/sorc/ncep_post.fd/INITPOST_NETCDF.f
index b14cbc316..047de8973 100644
--- a/sorc/ncep_post.fd/INITPOST_NETCDF.f
+++ b/sorc/ncep_post.fd/INITPOST_NETCDF.f
@@ -1479,7 +1479,7 @@ SUBROUTINE INITPOST_NETCDF(ncid2d,ncid3d)
           do j=jsta,jend
             do i=ista,iend
 
-              TV = T(I,J,L) * (H1+D608*MAX(Q(I,J,L),QMIN))
+              TV = MAX(T(I,J,L) * (H1+D608 * MAX(Q(I,J,L),1e-8)),1e-8)
               RHOMID(I,J,L) = PMID(I,J,L) / (RD*TV)
               do n = 1,  NBIN_DU
                 IF ( dust(i,j,l,n) < SPVAL) THEN