diff --git a/earthdiagnostics/ocean/heatcontentlayer.py b/earthdiagnostics/ocean/heatcontentlayer.py
index 60acffd7929d86e37341b0a126fa64fe2f3c9117..03317acfa2df7bbc966a227aa7d30a031db79542 100644
--- a/earthdiagnostics/ocean/heatcontentlayer.py
+++ b/earthdiagnostics/ocean/heatcontentlayer.py
@@ -262,7 +262,7 @@ class HeatContentLayer(Diagnostic):
         var = handler_results.createVariable(
             "heatc", float, ("time", "j", "i"), fill_value=1.0e20
         )
-        var.units = "J m-2" ""
+        var.units = "J m-2"
         var.coordinates = " ".join((lat_name, lon_name))
         handler_results.sync()
         # temporary fix, needs to loop over layers
@@ -281,11 +281,12 @@ class HeatContentLayer(Diagnostic):
             "heatcsum", float, ("time", "region",),
         )
         handler_results_1d.sync()
+        var_ohc_1d.units = "J"
         for i, basin in enumerate(self.basins):
             var_region[i, ...] = netCDF4.stringtoarr(basin.name, 50)
             var_ohc_1d[..., i] = heatc_sl_1d[i]
         handler_results_1d.close()
-        var_ohc_1d.units = "J" ""
+
         Utils.setminmax(results, "heatc")
         self.heatc.set_local_file(results)
         self.heatcsum.set_local_file(results_1d)