diff --git a/src/parameterizations/lateral/MOM_lateral_mixing_coeffs.F90 b/src/parameterizations/lateral/MOM_lateral_mixing_coeffs.F90
index 44b043e699..cff45e0d0f 100644
--- a/src/parameterizations/lateral/MOM_lateral_mixing_coeffs.F90
+++ b/src/parameterizations/lateral/MOM_lateral_mixing_coeffs.F90
@@ -1629,7 +1629,7 @@ subroutine VarMix_init(Time, G, GV, US, param_file, diag, CS)
             'Vertical structure of GL90 diffusivity', 'nondim')
   endif
 
-  if ((CS%calculate_Eady_growth_rate .and. CS%use_stored_slopes) .or. allocated(CS%sqg_struct)) then
+  if ((CS%calculate_Eady_growth_rate .and. CS%use_stored_slopes) ) then
     CS%id_N2_u = register_diag_field('ocean_model', 'N2_u', diag%axesCui, Time, &
          'Square of Brunt-Vaisala frequency, N^2, at u-points, as used in Visbeck et al.', &
          's-2', conversion=(US%L_to_Z*US%s_to_T)**2)