diff --git a/biogeochem/EDCohortDynamicsMod.F90 b/biogeochem/EDCohortDynamicsMod.F90
index f8436b4d4f..3aa36f020c 100644
--- a/biogeochem/EDCohortDynamicsMod.F90
+++ b/biogeochem/EDCohortDynamicsMod.F90
@@ -355,19 +355,6 @@ subroutine terminate_cohorts( currentSite, currentPatch, level , call_index, bc_
           endif
        endif
 
-
-
-       ! The rest of these are biological starvation checks, only allowed if we
-       ! are not dealing with a recruit (level 2)
-       if (currentcohort%n <  min_n_safemath .and. level == 1) then
-          terminate = itrue
-          termination_type = i_term_mort_type_numdens
-          if ( debug ) then
-             write(fates_log(),*) 'terminating cohorts 0',currentCohort%n/currentPatch%area, &
-                  currentCohort%dbh,currentCohort%pft,call_index
-          endif
-       endif
-
        ! The rest of these are only allowed if we are not dealing with a recruit (level 2)
        if_level_2: if (.not.currentCohort%isnew .and. level == 2) then
 
diff --git a/biogeochem/EDPatchDynamicsMod.F90 b/biogeochem/EDPatchDynamicsMod.F90
index a916caca44..967c80f0a3 100644
--- a/biogeochem/EDPatchDynamicsMod.F90
+++ b/biogeochem/EDPatchDynamicsMod.F90
@@ -3553,10 +3553,12 @@ subroutine terminate_patches(currentSite, bc_in)
     type(fates_patch_type), pointer :: youngerPatch
     type(fates_patch_type), pointer :: patchpointer
     type(fates_patch_type), pointer :: largest_patch
+    type(fates_patch_type), pointer :: orphan_lu_patch
     integer, parameter           :: max_cycles = 10  ! After 10 loops through
                                                      ! You should had fused
     integer                      :: count_cycles
     logical                      :: gotfused
+  
     logical                      :: current_patch_is_youngest_lutype
     integer                      :: i_landuse, i_pft
     integer                      :: land_use_type_to_remove
@@ -3569,14 +3571,13 @@ subroutine terminate_patches(currentSite, bc_in)
 
     ! Initialize the count cycles
     count_cycles = 0
-
+    
     ! Start at the youngest patch in the list and assume that the largest patch is this patch
     currentPatch => currentSite%youngest_patch
     do while(associated(currentPatch))
        lessthan_min_patcharea_if: if(currentPatch%area <= min_patch_area)then
 
           nocomp_if: if (hlm_use_nocomp .eq. itrue) then
-
              gotfused = .false.
              patchpointer => currentSite%youngest_patch
              do while(associated(patchpointer))
@@ -3634,16 +3635,36 @@ subroutine terminate_patches(currentSite, bc_in)
                    call fuse_2_patches(currentSite, largest_patch, currentPatch)
                    gotfused = .true.
                 else
-                   !! truly nothing else in this land-use label to fuse into; warn as before
-                   warn_msg = 'small nocomp patch wasnt able to find '// &
-                              'another patch to fuse with. '// &
-                              'nocomp pft: '//trim(I2S(currentPatch%nocomp_pft_label))// &
-                              'lu label: '//trim(I2S(currentPatch%land_use_label))// &
-                              'area: '//trim(N2S(currentPatch%area))
-                   call FatesWarn(warn_msg,index=5)
-                endif
-             endif
-
+                   !! truly nothing else in this land-use label to fuse into;
+                   if (.not. associated(currentPatch,currentSite%youngest_patch) &
+                       .and. currentPatch%area < min_patch_area_forced) then
+                      ! This is the only patch in this landuse label when running with nocomp. It will cause numerical instability.
+                      ! We will terminate 
+                      warn_msg = 'This is an orphah patch with '// &
+                                       'nocomp pft: '//trim(I2S(currentPatch%nocomp_pft_label))// &
+                                       'lu label: '//trim(I2S(currentPatch%land_use_label))// &
+                                       'area: '//trim(N2S(currentPatch%area))// 'sending to bareground.'
+                      call FatesWarn(warn_msg,index=5)
+                      patchpointer => currentSite%youngest_patch
+                      do while(associated(patchpointer))
+                        if (patchpointer%nocomp_pft_label == nocomp_bareground) exit
+                           patchpointer => patchpointer%older
+                      end do
+                      if (associated(patchpointer)) then
+                          currentPatch%nocomp_pft_label = nocomp_bareground
+                          currentPatch%land_use_label = nocomp_bareground_land
+                          call fuse_2_patches(currentSite, currentPatch, patchpointer)
+                          call terminate_cohorts(currentSite, patchpointer, 4,30,bc_in)
+                          call patchpointer%SortCohorts()
+                          call patchpointer%ValidateCohorts()
+                          call patchpointer%CheckCohortsPfts(1)
+                          ! go back to youngest
+                          currentPatch => currentSite%youngest_patch
+                          gotfused = .true.
+                      end if
+                   end if
+                end if
+             end if
           else nocomp_if
 
              ! Even if the patch area is small, avoid fusing it into its neighbor
diff --git a/biogeophys/EDBtranMod.F90 b/biogeophys/EDBtranMod.F90
index c02ea3bc60..1fc4ad93a9 100644
--- a/biogeophys/EDBtranMod.F90
+++ b/biogeophys/EDBtranMod.F90
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ module EDBtranMod
        bc_out_type, &
        numpft
   use FatesInterfaceTypesMod , only : hlm_use_planthydro
+  use FatesInterfaceTypesMod , only : hlm_use_nocomp
   use FatesGlobals      , only : fates_log
   use FatesAllometryMod , only : set_root_fraction
   use shr_log_mod , only      : errMsg => shr_log_errMsg
@@ -30,7 +31,7 @@ module EDBtranMod
   private
 
 
-  logical, parameter :: debug = .true.
+  logical, parameter :: debug = .false.
   character(len=*), parameter :: sourcefile = __FILE__
   
   public :: btran_ed
@@ -176,7 +177,9 @@ subroutine btran_ed( nsites, sites, bc_in, bc_out)
                   pftgs(ft) = 0._r8
                 endif
              end do
-               
+
+
+
              ! THIS SHOULD REALLY BE A COHORT LOOP ONCE WE HAVE rootfr_ft FOR COHORTS (RGK)
              cpatch%btran_ft(:) = 0.0_r8
              root_resis(:,:) = 0.0_r8