diff --git a/cime_config/buildnml b/cime_config/buildnml
index 23354c522..b80c74388 100755
--- a/cime_config/buildnml
+++ b/cime_config/buildnml
@@ -109,8 +109,9 @@ def _create_drv_namelists(case, infile, confdir, nmlgen, files):
     #--------------------------------
     # Overwrite: wav-ice coupling (assumes cice6 as the ice component
     #--------------------------------
-    if (case.get_value("COMP_WAV") == 'ww3dev' and case.get_value("COMP_ICE") == 'cice'):
-        nmlgen.set_value('wavice_coupling', value='.true.')
+    ## commenting out wavice_coupling for now because it causes instabilities. -aa
+    ##if (case.get_value("COMP_WAV") == 'ww3dev' and case.get_value("COMP_ICE") == 'cice'):
+    ##    nmlgen.set_value('wavice_coupling', value='.true.')
 
     #--------------------------------
     # Overwrite: set brnch_retain_casename