diff --git a/src/ice_thermo_cpl.F90 b/src/ice_thermo_cpl.F90
index 7e3a75532..a1c9a94a6 100644
--- a/src/ice_thermo_cpl.F90
+++ b/src/ice_thermo_cpl.F90
@@ -279,7 +279,7 @@ subroutine ice_growth(qres)
 
     !---- total atmospheric and oceanic heat fluxes
     !---- average over grid cell [W/m**2]
-    ahf = A*Qatmice + (1._WP-A)*Qatmocn + qres
+    ahf = A*Qatmice + (1._WP-A)*Qatmocn - qres
     ohf = A*Qocnice + (1._WP-A)*Qocnatm