diff --git a/src/framework/MOM_io_file.F90 b/src/framework/MOM_io_file.F90
index 2dfdf6b90e..a48c11ea74 100644
--- a/src/framework/MOM_io_file.F90
+++ b/src/framework/MOM_io_file.F90
@@ -1696,12 +1696,16 @@ subroutine read_field_chksum_nc(handle, field, chksum, valid_chksum)
     !< File where field is stored
   type(MOM_field), intent(in) :: field
     !< The field whose checksum attribute is to be read
-  integer(kind=int64), intent(out) :: chksum = -1
+  integer(kind=int64), intent(out) :: chksum
     !< The checksum for the field.
-  logical, intent(out) :: valid_chksum = .false.
+  logical, intent(out) :: valid_chksum
     !< If true, chksum has been successfully read
 
   call MOM_error(FATAL, 'read_field_chksum over netCDF is not yet implemented.')
+
+! NOTE: Unused return values to eliminate compiler warnings
+  chksum = -1_int64
+  valid_chksum = .false.
 end subroutine read_field_chksum_nc