diff --git a/src/SURFEX/mode_read_extern.F90 b/src/SURFEX/mode_read_extern.F90
index 9b81e89f5344f8cf1d23720e1e76b93671b31f7b..223a60cb29281fdfd8fe136085f9ca5250366bc1 100644
--- a/src/SURFEX/mode_read_extern.F90
+++ b/src/SURFEX/mode_read_extern.F90
@@ -294,6 +294,14 @@ IF (HNAT=='NAT' .AND. (IVERSION>=7 .OR. .NOT.GECOCLIMAP)) THEN
     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
       !