diff --git a/src/SURFEX/mode_read_extern.F90 b/src/SURFEX/mode_read_extern.F90
index 1a01fcb25ed1f450cdf34c8395b6f74b704b12aa..d4a7867ee591b0181d0cac01c419d7e7fc4a4f96 100644
--- a/src/SURFEX/mode_read_extern.F90
+++ b/src/SURFEX/mode_read_extern.F90
@@ -200,6 +200,14 @@ IF (HNAT=='NAT' .AND. (IVERSION>=7 .OR. .NOT.GECOCLIMAP)) THEN
     IF (IVERSION>7 .OR. IVERSION==7 .AND. IBUGFIX>=3) YRECFM2='L_GROUND_DPT'
     YCOMMENT=YRECFM2
     CALL READ_SURF(HPROGRAM,YRECFM2,GDATA_GROUND_DEPTH,IRESP,HCOMMENT=YCOMMENT)
+    IF (IRESP/=0 .AND. YRECFM2=='L_GROUND_DEPTH' ) THEN
+     WRITE  (KLUOUT,*) ' | ERROR Reading L_GROUND_DEPTH try with L_GROUND_DPT'
+
+      YRECFM2='L_GROUND_DPT'
+      YCOMMENT=YRECFM2
+      CALL READ_SURF(&
+               HPROGRAM,YRECFM2,GDATA_GROUND_DEPTH,IRESP,HCOMMENT=YCOMMENT)
+    ENDIF  
     !
     IF (GDATA_GROUND_DEPTH) THEN
       !