diff --git a/earthdiagnostics/ocean/siasiesiv.py b/earthdiagnostics/ocean/siasiesiv.py
index 24cf3c0e604991671113583716f456770757cbf9..dd13da4eef922e1c3834015c55ce16f747a79efa 100644
--- a/earthdiagnostics/ocean/siasiesiv.py
+++ b/earthdiagnostics/ocean/siasiesiv.py
@@ -210,7 +210,8 @@ class Siasiesiv(Diagnostic):
             else:
                 var_res.units = 'm^2'
             for i, basin in enumerate(self.masks):
-                var_region[i, ...] = netCDF4.stringtoarr(str(basin), 50)
-                var_res[..., i] = res[i, ...]
+                if not np.all(res[i, ...]==0):
+                    var_region[i, ...] = netCDF4.stringtoarr(str(basin), 50)
+                    var_res[..., i] = res[i, ...]
             handler_temp.close()
             self.generated[var].set_local_file(temp, diagnostic=self)