diff --git a/physics/mfdeepcnv.f b/physics/mfdeepcnv.f
index 99a047ad8..186265a82 100644
--- a/physics/mfdeepcnv.f
+++ b/physics/mfdeepcnv.f
@@ -273,6 +273,10 @@ subroutine sasas_deep_run(im,ix,km,delt,delp,prslp,psp,phil,ql1,  &
 c    &            .743,.813,.886,.947,1.138,1.377,1.896/
       real(kind=kind_phys) tf, tcr, tcrf
       parameter (tf=233.16, tcr=263.16, tcrf=1.0/(tcr-tf))
+!
+      ! Initialize CCPP error handling variables
+      errmsg = ''
+      errflg = 0
 !
 c-----------------------------------------------------------------------
 !>  ## Compute preliminary quantities needed for static, dynamic, and feedback control portions of the algorithm.