diff --git a/config/cesm/machines/config_machines.xml b/config/cesm/machines/config_machines.xml
index 0e022658e3c..a34f7f63fb9 100644
--- a/config/cesm/machines/config_machines.xml
+++ b/config/cesm/machines/config_machines.xml
@@ -1176,7 +1176,7 @@ This allows using a different mpirun command to launch unit tests
       </modules>
 
       <modules>
-        <command name="load">esmf/8.5.0</command>
+        <command name="load">esmf/8.6.0</command>
       </modules>
 
     </module_system>