diff --git a/ens_mean_recenter/ens_mean_recenter.f90 b/ens_mean_recenter/ens_mean_recenter.f90
index 60496d2..df0a224 100644
--- a/ens_mean_recenter/ens_mean_recenter.f90
+++ b/ens_mean_recenter/ens_mean_recenter.f90
@@ -43,11 +43,12 @@ PROGRAM ens_mean_recenter
 ! namelist
   integer, parameter    :: max_num_file = 10
   integer, parameter    :: filename_len=200
+  integer, parameter    :: varlist_len=500
   integer :: fv3_io_layout_y
   character(len=filename_len)  :: filebase
   character(len=filename_len)  :: filetail(max_num_file)
   integer                      :: numvar(max_num_file)
-  character(len=filename_len)  :: varlist(max_num_file)
+  character(len=varlist_len)  :: varlist(max_num_file)
   integer    :: ens_size
   logical    :: l_write_mean             ! if write ensmeble mean
   logical    :: l_recenter               ! if recenter
diff --git a/ens_mean_recenter/module_fv3lam_stats.f90 b/ens_mean_recenter/module_fv3lam_stats.f90
index 6a9bd8d..efe08d7 100644
--- a/ens_mean_recenter/module_fv3lam_stats.f90
+++ b/ens_mean_recenter/module_fv3lam_stats.f90
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ subroutine init(this,numfiles,filein,numvar,varlist)
     class(ncfile_stat) :: this
 !
     integer :: i,n1,n2
-    character(len=200) :: varlistlocal
+    character(len=500) :: varlistlocal
 !
     this%numfiles=numfiles
     this%numvar=0