diff --git a/test_fms/topography/test_topography.sh b/test_fms/topography/test_topography.sh
index cb949ca08c..376c9029f2 100755
--- a/test_fms/topography/test_topography.sh
+++ b/test_fms/topography/test_topography.sh
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ test_expect_success "Test topography: r4_kind" '
   mpirun -n 2 ./test_topography_r4
 '
 
-rm -f *.nc
+sync; rm -f *.nc
 
 test_expect_success "Test topography: r8_kind" '
   mpirun -n 2 ./test_topography_r8