diff --git a/parm/config/gfs/config.base b/parm/config/gfs/config.base
index 2e01082158..fd1ffdc415 100644
--- a/parm/config/gfs/config.base
+++ b/parm/config/gfs/config.base
@@ -178,7 +178,7 @@ export DO_WAVE="NO"
 export DO_OCN="NO"
 export DO_ICE="NO"
 export DO_AERO="NO"
-export DO_PREP_OBS_AERO="YES"
+export DO_PREP_OBS_AERO="NO"
 export AERO_FCST_CDUMP="" # When to run aerosol forecast: gdas, gfs, or both
 export AERO_ANL_CDUMP="" # When to run aerosol analysis: gdas, gfs, or both
 export WAVE_CDUMP="" # When to include wave suite: gdas, gfs, or both