diff --git a/src/share/ioModule.f90 b/src/share/ioModule.f90
index 337c04d..d62250a 100644
--- a/src/share/ioModule.f90
+++ b/src/share/ioModule.f90
@@ -24,10 +24,13 @@ subroutine read_snow17_parameters(this, param_file_name, runinfo)
     ! local variables
     character(len=400)      :: readline
     character(len=50)		:: param
-    integer    	            :: ios=0   ! specify i4b with nrtype?
+    integer    	            :: ios   ! specify i4b with nrtype?
     integer                 :: pos
     integer                 :: n_params_read, nh  ! counters
   
+    !Use assignment instead of declaration+initialization to avoid SAVE attribute gotcha
+    ios = 0
+
     ! open parameter file
     open(unit=51,file=trim(param_file_name),status='old')