diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index e80d4e505881..f271ecd19966 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ and this project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0
 - Fixed bug that required a /dev/null ExtData entry to still have a file variable name
 - Fixed bug with checking for duplicate alias in collection
 - Added protection in History to only allow `instantaneous` or `time-averaged` modes
+- Check userRC after ESMF_GridCompInitialize in MAPL_GenericInitialize
 
 ### Added
 
diff --git a/generic/MAPL_Generic.F90 b/generic/MAPL_Generic.F90
index 5f770fa4818e..afdc7d0cd178 100644
--- a/generic/MAPL_Generic.F90
+++ b/generic/MAPL_Generic.F90
@@ -1265,6 +1265,7 @@ recursive subroutine initialize_children_and_couplers(rc)
                        exportState=child_export_state, &
                        clock=CLOCK, PHASE=CHLDMAPL(I)%PTR%PHASE_INIT(PHASE), &
                        userRC=userRC, __RC__ )
+                  _VERIFY(userRC)
                   call MAPL_TimerOff(STATE,trim(CHILD_NAME))
                end if
             end do