diff --git a/src/core/MOM_open_boundary.F90 b/src/core/MOM_open_boundary.F90
index 68e1a03669..ff90658460 100644
--- a/src/core/MOM_open_boundary.F90
+++ b/src/core/MOM_open_boundary.F90
@@ -5052,7 +5052,9 @@ subroutine mask_outside_OBCs(G, US, param_file, OBC)
   integer :: i, j
   integer :: l_seg
   logical :: fatal_error = .False.
-  real    :: min_depth ! The minimum depth for ocean points [Z ~> m]
+  real    :: min_depth  ! The minimum depth for ocean points [Z ~> m]
+  real    :: mask_depth ! The masking depth for ocean points [Z ~> m]
+  real    :: Dmask      ! The depth for masking in the same units as G%bathyT [Z ~> m].
   integer, parameter :: cin = 3, cout = 4, cland = -1, cedge = -2
   character(len=256) :: mesg    ! Message for error messages.
   real, allocatable, dimension(:,:) :: color, color2  ! For sorting inside from outside,
@@ -5062,6 +5064,12 @@ subroutine mask_outside_OBCs(G, US, param_file, OBC)
 
   call get_param(param_file, mdl, "MINIMUM_DEPTH", min_depth, &
                  units="m", default=0.0, scale=US%m_to_Z, do_not_log=.true.)
+  call get_param(param_file, mdl, "MASKING_DEPTH", mask_depth, &
+                 units="m", default=-9999.0, scale=US%m_to_Z, do_not_log=.true.)
+
+  Dmask = mask_depth
+  if (mask_depth == -9999.0*US%m_to_Z) Dmask = min_depth
+
   ! The reference depth on a dyn_horgrid is 0, otherwise would need:  min_depth = min_depth - G%Z_ref
 
   allocate(color(G%isd:G%ied, G%jsd:G%jed), source=0.0)
@@ -5152,7 +5160,7 @@ subroutine mask_outside_OBCs(G, US, param_file, OBC)
           &"the masking of the outside grid points.")') i, j
       call MOM_error(WARNING,"MOM mask_outside_OBCs: "//mesg, all_print=.true.)
     endif
-    if (color(i,j) == cout) G%bathyT(i,j) = min_depth
+    if (color(i,j) == cout) G%bathyT(i,j) = Dmask
   enddo ; enddo
   if (fatal_error) call MOM_error(FATAL, &
       "MOM_open_boundary: inconsistent OBC segments.")