diff --git a/dartwrf/workflows.py b/dartwrf/workflows.py
index 5c8877c26902c6135aa30fbf45363d90f17b69ff..fca66c85cac7d99ac7e8dcc8f45dadef655c9c39 100644
--- a/dartwrf/workflows.py
+++ b/dartwrf/workflows.py
@@ -184,9 +184,12 @@ class WorkFlows(object):
         mpirun -np 1 ./ideal.exe &
     done
     wait
+
+    # move log file to sim_archive
     for ((n=1; n<="""+str(self.exp.n_ens)+"""; n++))
     do
         rundir="""+self.cluster.wrf_rundir_base+'/'+self.exp.expname+"""/$n
+        touch -a $rundir/rsl.out.0000  # create log file if it doesnt exist, to avoid error in mv if it doesnt exist
         mv $rundir/rsl.out.0000 $rundir/rsl.out.input
     done
     """