diff --git a/src/offline/cable_input.F90 b/src/offline/cable_input.F90
index 0833e905a..4061537cd 100644
--- a/src/offline/cable_input.F90
+++ b/src/offline/cable_input.F90
@@ -400,7 +400,7 @@ SUBROUTINE open_met_file(dels,koffset,kend,spinup, TFRZ)
           PRINT*,'rainf'
           CALL handle_err( ok )
        ENDIF
-       IF(.NOT. globalMetfile%l_gpcc) THEN
+       IF(.NOT. globalMetfile%l_gpcc .AND. TRIM(cable_user%MetType) /= 'prin') THEN
          ok = NF90_OPEN(gswpfile%snowf,0,ncid_snow)
          IF (ok /= NF90_NOERR) THEN
             PRINT*,'snow'