diff --git a/docs/Development/ReleaseNotes.md b/docs/Development/ReleaseNotes.md
index b8b3a823c..59637c99d 100644
--- a/docs/Development/ReleaseNotes.md
+++ b/docs/Development/ReleaseNotes.md
@@ -135,6 +135,8 @@ To check which release of VIC you are running:
 
 1.	Renamed "fcov" to "fcan" in image driver to better match variable code name ([GH#673](https://github.com/UW-Hydro/VIC/pull/673))
 
+1. NetCDF forcing files are now closed at the last timestep in stead of after the last timestep. ([GH#774](https://github.com/UW-Hydro/VIC/pull/774))
+
 ------------------------------
 
 ## VIC 5.0.1
diff --git a/vic/drivers/image/src/vic_force.c b/vic/drivers/image/src/vic_force.c
index 1209335e0..eb8dab57d 100644
--- a/vic/drivers/image/src/vic_force.c
+++ b/vic/drivers/image/src/vic_force.c
@@ -245,7 +245,7 @@ vic_force(void)
 
     if (mpi_rank == VIC_MPI_ROOT) {
         // Close forcing file if it is the last time step
-        if (current == global_param.nrecs) {
+        if (current == global_param.nrecs - 1) {
             status = nc_close(filenames.forcing[0].nc_id);
             check_nc_status(status, "Error closing %s",
                             filenames.forcing[0].nc_filename);
@@ -375,7 +375,7 @@ vic_force(void)
 
         if (mpi_rank == VIC_MPI_ROOT) {
             // Close forcing file if it is the last time step
-            if (current == global_param.nrecs) {
+            if (current == global_param.nrecs - 1) {
                 status = nc_close(filenames.forcing[1].nc_id);
                 check_nc_status(status, "Error closing %s",
                                 filenames.forcing[1].nc_filename);