diff --git a/src/fiat/oml/oml_mod.F90 b/src/fiat/oml/oml_mod.F90
index 92ef3460..1938ae14 100644
--- a/src/fiat/oml/oml_mod.F90
+++ b/src/fiat/oml/oml_mod.F90
@@ -102,6 +102,9 @@ MODULE OML_MOD
 !:: OML_GET_MAX_THREADS() is now an alias to OML_MAX_THREADS()
 !:: OML_INIT()'s initialization of N_OML_MAX_THREADS only done if OUTSIDE the parallel region -- otherwise task aborted
 
+!**FV/04-Mar-2026
+!-- Remove mention of IFS routine in OML_INCR_COUNTER and add optional KERR argument for external error handling.
+
 IMPLICIT NONE
 
 SAVE
@@ -264,7 +267,7 @@ END FUNCTION OML_TEST_EVENT
 
 SUBROUTINE OML_WAIT_EVENT(K,MYEVENT)
 INTEGER(KIND=JPIM),INTENT(IN) :: K
-INTEGER(KIND=JPIM),INTENT(INOUT),OPTIONAL :: MYEVENT
+INTEGER(KIND=JPIM),INTENT(IN),OPTIONAL :: MYEVENT
 INTEGER(KIND=JPIM) :: ITMP
 IF (PRESENT(MYEVENT)) THEN
   DO
@@ -305,20 +308,23 @@ SUBROUTINE OML_INCR_EVENT(K,MYEVENT)
 !$OMP FLUSH
 END SUBROUTINE OML_INCR_EVENT
 
-SUBROUTINE OML_INCR_COUNTER(K,KMAX)
+SUBROUTINE OML_INCR_COUNTER(K,KMAX,KERR)
 INTEGER(KIND=JPIM),INTENT(INOUT) :: K
 INTEGER(KIND=JPIM),INTENT(IN) :: KMAX
+INTEGER(KIND=JPIM),OPTIONAL,INTENT(OUT) :: KERR
+INTEGER(KIND=JPIM) :: IERR
 ! Increment by 1
 K=K+1
 ! Security check
+IERR=0
 IF (K > KMAX)  THEN
-   WRITE(NULERR,'("OML_INCR_COUNTER: ILOCK > SIZE(KLOCK), ILOCK=",I0," SIZE(KLOCK)=",I0)') K,KMAX
-   CALL ABOR1('PLEASE INCREASE JP_LOCKS IN CALL_SL_AD')
-   RETURN
+  IERR=1
+  WRITE(NULERR,'("OML_INCR_COUNTER: ILOCK > SIZE(KLOCK), ILOCK=",I0," SIZE(KLOCK)=",I0)') K,KMAX
+  IF (.NOT. PRESENT(KERR)) CALL ABOR1('OML_INCR_COUNTER: PLEASE INCREASE LOCKS ARRAY DIMENSION.')
 ENDIF
+IF(PRESENT(KERR)) KERR=IERR
 END SUBROUTINE OML_INCR_COUNTER
 
-
 FUNCTION OML_MY_THREAD()
 INTEGER(KIND=JPIM) :: OML_MY_THREAD
 !$ INTEGER(KIND=JPIM) :: OMP_GET_THREAD_NUM