diff --git a/src/SURFEX/modd_ch_tebn.F90 b/src/SURFEX/modd_ch_tebn.F90
index 511d142c50b1756d0d906b28650751676e6662fb..3e43a15ad3d37f04480de0c9ee6a12a8edaafe9f 100644
--- a/src/SURFEX/modd_ch_tebn.F90
+++ b/src/SURFEX/modd_ch_tebn.F90
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ NULLIFY(YCH_TEB%CCH_NAMES)
 NULLIFY(YCH_TEB%CAER_NAMES)
 NULLIFY(YCH_TEB%CDSTNAMES)
 NULLIFY(YCH_TEB%CSLTNAMES)
-YCH_TEB%CCHEM_SURF_FILE=' '
+YCH_TEB%CCHEM_SURF_FILE='MNHC.input'
 YCH_TEB%CCH_DRY_DEP=' '
 YCH_TEB%CPARAMBVOC=' '
 YCH_TEB%LCH_BIO_FLUX=.FALSE.