diff --git a/ci/cases/C48_S2S_gefs.yaml b/ci/cases/C48_S2S_gefs.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..44869fb407
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ci/cases/C48_S2S_gefs.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+experiment:
+  type: gefs
+
+arguments:
+  pslot: ${pslot}
+  app: S2SA
+  resdet: 48
+  resens: 48
+  nens: 2
+  gfs_cyc: 1
+  comrot: ${RUNTESTS}/COMROT
+  expdir: ${RUNTESTS}/EXPDIR
+  icsdir: ${ICSDIR_ROOT}/C48C48mx500
+  idate: 2021032312
+  edate: 2021032312
+  yaml: ${HOMEgfs_PR}/ci/platforms/gfs_defaults_ci-updates.yaml
diff --git a/workflow/setup_expt.py b/workflow/setup_expt.py
index 803a704b2a..61ffd837b0 100755
--- a/workflow/setup_expt.py
+++ b/workflow/setup_expt.py
@@ -224,7 +224,15 @@ def fill_COMROT_forecasts(host, inputs):
     """
     Implementation of 'fill_COMROT' for forecast-only mode
     """
-    print('forecast-only mode treats ICs differently and cannot be staged here')
+    if inputs.system in ['gfs']:
+        print('forecast-only mode treats ICs differently and cannot be staged here')
+    elif inputs.system in ['gefs']:  # Temporarily copy ICs from icsdir into COM for      testing
+        print('temporary hack to stage gefs ICs for testing')
+        comrot = os.path.join(inputs.comrot, inputs.pslot)
+        idatestr = datetime_to_YMDH(inputs.idate)
+        current_cycle_dir = f'gefs.{idatestr[:8]}}'
+        cmd = f"cp -as {inputs.icsdir}/gefs.{idatestr} {comrot}/{current_cycle_dir}"
+        os.system(cmd)
     return
 
 
@@ -455,6 +463,9 @@ def input_args(*argv):
                       default=os.path.join(_top, 'parm/config/gefs'))
     gefs.add_argument('--yaml', help='Defaults to substitute from', type=str, required=False,
                       default=os.path.join(_top, 'parm/config/gefs/yaml/defaults.yaml'))
+    gefs.add_argument('--icsdir', help='full path to initial condition directory
+                      [temporary hack in place for testing]',
+                      type=str, required=False, default=None)
 
     return parser.parse_args(argv[0][0] if len(argv[0]) else None)