diff --git a/mediator/med_phases_ocnalb_mod.F90 b/mediator/med_phases_ocnalb_mod.F90
index 304d0c7f..18d709cd 100644
--- a/mediator/med_phases_ocnalb_mod.F90
+++ b/mediator/med_phases_ocnalb_mod.F90
@@ -634,9 +634,9 @@ subroutine med_phases_ocnalb_orbital_update(clock, logunit,  maintask, eccen, ob
     type(ESMF_Time)   :: CurrTime ! current time
     integer           :: year     ! model year at current time
     integer           :: orb_year ! orbital year for current orbital computation
+    integer, save     :: prev_orb_year=0
     character(len=CL) :: msgstr   ! temporary
     logical           :: lprint
-    logical           :: first_time = .true.
     character(len=*) , parameter :: subname = "(med_phases_ocnalb_orbital_update)"
     !-------------------------------------------
 
@@ -648,19 +648,18 @@ subroutine med_phases_ocnalb_orbital_update(clock, logunit,  maintask, eccen, ob
        call ESMF_TimeGet(CurrTime, yy=year, rc=rc)
        if (chkerr(rc,__LINE__,u_FILE_u)) return
        orb_year = orb_iyear + (year - orb_iyear_align)
-       lprint = maintask
     else
        orb_year = orb_iyear
-       if (first_time) then
-          lprint = maintask
-          first_time = .false.
-       else
-          lprint = .false.
-       end if
     end if
 
     eccen = orb_eccen
     shr_log_unit = logunit
+
+    if(orb_year .ne. prev_orb_year) then
+       prev_orb_year = orb_year
+       lprint = maintask
+    end if
+
     call shr_orb_params(orb_year, eccen, orb_obliq, orb_mvelp, obliqr, lambm0, mvelpp, lprint)
 
     if ( eccen  == SHR_ORB_UNDEF_REAL .or. obliqr == SHR_ORB_UNDEF_REAL .or. &