diff --git a/base/MAPL_VerticalMethods.F90 b/base/MAPL_VerticalMethods.F90
index ae883a437f8c..2a6793aee30b 100644
--- a/base/MAPL_VerticalMethods.F90
+++ b/base/MAPL_VerticalMethods.F90
@@ -622,8 +622,9 @@ subroutine VertInterp(v2,v3,pp,ple_,pl_,rc)
       end where
     end if
 
-    deallocate(plx,_STAT)
-
+    if (flip) then
+      deallocate(plx,_STAT)
+    endif
     _RETURN(ESMF_SUCCESS)
   end subroutine VertInterp