diff --git a/CIME/baselines/performance.py b/CIME/baselines/performance.py
index c16cc8c23aa..0d5aa2f6c7a 100644
--- a/CIME/baselines/performance.py
+++ b/CIME/baselines/performance.py
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ def perf_compare_memory_baseline(case, baseline_dir=None):
         tolerance = 0.1
 
     baseline_file = os.path.join(baseline_dir, "cpl-mem.log")
-    if not os.path.exists(baseline_file):
+    if os.path.exists(baseline_dir) and not os.path.exists(baseline_file):
         return True, ": No baseline memory file present"
 
     baseline = read_baseline_file(baseline_file)