diff --git a/Externals.cfg b/Externals.cfg
index 40e480542a..4fbbeca456 100644
--- a/Externals.cfg
+++ b/Externals.cfg
@@ -13,6 +13,13 @@ repo_url = https://github.com/ESCOMP/CESM_CICE5
 local_path = components/cice
 required = True
 
+[cdeps]
+hash = 45b7a85
+protocol = git
+repo_url = https://github.com/ESCOMP/CDEPS.git
+local_path = components/cdeps
+required = True
+
 [cime]
 tag = cime5.8.32
 protocol = git
diff --git a/Externals_cime.cfg b/Externals_cime.cfg
index a60850c024..274cacb916 100644
--- a/Externals_cime.cfg
+++ b/Externals_cime.cfg
@@ -5,12 +5,5 @@ repo_url = https://github.com/ESCOMP/CMEPS.git
 local_path = src/drivers/nuopc/
 required = False
 
-[cdeps]
-hash = cfc534
-protocol = git
-repo_url = https://github.com/ESCOMP/CDEPS.git
-local_path = src/components/cdeps
-required = False
-
 [externals_description]
 schema_version = 1.0.0