diff --git a/sorc/ncep_post.fd/INITPOST_GFS_NEMS_MPIIO.f b/sorc/ncep_post.fd/INITPOST_GFS_NEMS_MPIIO.f
index 7f7153cca0..08356ee7c6 100644
--- a/sorc/ncep_post.fd/INITPOST_GFS_NEMS_MPIIO.f
+++ b/sorc/ncep_post.fd/INITPOST_GFS_NEMS_MPIIO.f
@@ -1156,7 +1156,7 @@ SUBROUTINE INITPOST_GFS_NEMS_MPIIO(iostatusAER)
           if (j > jm-jtem+1) then
             npass = npass + nint(0.5*(j-jm+jtem-1))
           elseif (j < jtem)  then
-            npass = npass + nint(0.5*(jtem--j))
+            npass = npass + nint(0.5*(jtem-j))
           endif
 !         npass = 0
 !$omp parallel do private(i,l,ll)