diff --git a/src/MNH/relaxation.f90 b/src/MNH/relaxation.f90
index 687de0f0260c817ccfd85c9473bcc02ce42a222f..1852231c9a8b426f851b1698bc2a89e41a2596ca 100644
--- a/src/MNH/relaxation.f90
+++ b/src/MNH/relaxation.f90
@@ -561,6 +561,8 @@ ENDIF
 !
 !
 !*       3.2    APPLIES THE DAMPING NEAR THE LATERAL BOUNDARIES
+!
+  ZWORK=0.
 !
 ! special treatment is needed to expand LB for U and V because of the C grid 
 IF ( OHORELAX_UVWTH ) THEN
@@ -568,8 +570,6 @@ IF ( OHORELAX_UVWTH ) THEN
   DO JK=1,IKU
     GMASK3D_RELAX(:,:,JK)=OMASK_RELAX(:,:)
   END DO
-!
-  ZWORK=0.
 !
   IDIMLB = SIZE(PLBXUM,1)
   IF ( IDIMLB /= 0) THEN