diff --git a/parm/land/letkfoi/letkfoi.yaml b/parm/land/letkfoi/letkfoi.yaml
index 5c12e1547..11db7a94d 100644
--- a/parm/land/letkfoi/letkfoi.yaml
+++ b/parm/land/letkfoi/letkfoi.yaml
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ background:
      template:
        datetime: '{{ current_cycle | to_isotime }}'
        filetype: fms restart
-       state variables: [$(SNOWDEPTHVAR) ,vtype,slmsk]
+       state variables: [snodl,vtype,slmsk]
        datapath: $(DATA)/bkg/mem%mem%/RESTART
        filename_sfcd: '{{ current_cycle | to_fv3time }}.sfc_data.nc'
        filename_cplr: '{{ current_cycle | to_fv3time }}.coupler.res'
@@ -56,5 +56,5 @@ output increment:
   filetype: fms restart
   filename_sfcd: '{{ current_cycle | to_fv3time }}.sfc_data.nc'
   filename_cplr: '{{ current_cycle | to_fv3time }}.coupler.res'
-  state variables: [$(SNOWDEPTHVAR),vtype,slmsk]
+  state variables: [snodl,vtype,slmsk]