diff --git a/HEMCO b/HEMCO
index 4a66bae..deaa192 160000
--- a/HEMCO
+++ b/HEMCO
@@ -1 +1 @@
-Subproject commit 4a66bae48f33e6dc22cda5ec9d4633192dee2f73
+Subproject commit deaa1923f3d3e06e264c4ccbe0e3b7dc32edcc20
diff --git a/src/nuopc/cap.F90 b/src/nuopc/cap.F90
index a79d58b..cbbcb55 100644
--- a/src/nuopc/cap.F90
+++ b/src/nuopc/cap.F90
@@ -944,7 +944,8 @@ subroutine hco_set_grid( HcoState, RC )
     character(len=255)    :: LOC
     character(len=  1)    :: COL
     character(len=255)    :: MyGridFile, ThisLoc
-    character(len=4095)   :: DUM,        ErrMsg,  Msg
+    character(len=5500)   :: DUM
+    character(len=255)    :: ErrMsg, Msg
 
     !=================================================================
     ! SET_GRID begins here
@@ -1710,7 +1711,7 @@ subroutine hco_ext_set_fields ( HcoState, ExtState, RC )
       end if
     end if
 
-    !%%%%% Air and skin temperature %%%%%
+    !%%%%% Air temperature %%%%%
     if ( ExtState%T2M%DoUse ) then
       Name = 'T2M'
       call ExtDat_Set( HcoState,     ExtState%T2M,                          &
@@ -1724,6 +1725,7 @@ subroutine hco_ext_set_fields ( HcoState, ExtState, RC )
       end if
     end if
 
+    !%%%%% Skin temperature %%%%%
     if ( ExtState%TSKIN%DoUse ) then
       Name = 'TS'
       call ExtDat_Set( HcoState,     ExtState%TSKIN,                        &
@@ -1737,6 +1739,20 @@ subroutine hco_ext_set_fields ( HcoState, ExtState, RC )
       end if
     end if
 
+    !%%%%% Soil temperature %%%%%
+    IF ( ExtState%TSOIL1%DoUse ) THEN
+      Name = 'TSOIL1'
+      CALL ExtDat_Set( HcoState,     ExtState%TSOIL1,                       &
+      trim( Name ), RC,       FIRST=FIRST                 )
+      if ( RC /= HCO_SUCCESS ) then
+        ErrMsg = 'Could not find quantity "' // trim( Name )            // &
+          '" for the HEMCO standalone simulation!'
+        call HCO_Error( HcoConfig%Err, ErrMsg, RC, ThisLoc )
+        call HCO_Leave( HcoState%Config%Err, RC )
+        return
+      end if
+    end if
+
     !%%%%% Soil moisture %%%%%
     if ( ExtState%GWETROOT%DoUse ) then
       Name = 'GWETROOT'