diff --git a/srcF/sfx_sheba.f90 b/srcF/sfx_sheba.f90
index 1940e960e4c4efe0ba8c83b3a060fdeb20406bc0..c53a396cc768b1e12beca9920a19b4107853ffbb 100644
--- a/srcF/sfx_sheba.f90
+++ b/srcF/sfx_sheba.f90
@@ -108,8 +108,8 @@ contains
         integer i
         ! ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 #if defined(INCLUDE_CXX)
-        type (meteoDataVecTypeC), pointer :: meteo_c         !< meteorological data (input)
-        type (sfxDataVecTypeC), pointer :: sfx_c             !< surface flux data (output)
+        type (meteoDataVecTypeC), target :: meteo_c         !< meteorological data (input)
+        type (sfxDataVecTypeC), target :: sfx_c             !< surface flux data (output)
         type(C_PTR) :: meteo_c_ptr, sfx_c_ptr
         type (sfx_sheba_param_C) :: model_param
         type (sfx_surface_param) :: surface_param