diff --git a/Inst_eddies/get_1_outerm.f90 b/Inst_eddies/get_1_outerm.f90
index 0ce7af7886f6260b8aa2ac087ca88057dff9a2ff..c3e3a3e34bf5b1742b4c9b5dad73ba26d12104cd 100644
--- a/Inst_eddies/get_1_outerm.f90
+++ b/Inst_eddies/get_1_outerm.f90
@@ -158,14 +158,14 @@ contains
           ! Assertion: n_cont <= n_max_cont - 1
        end if
 
-       cont_list(n_cont)%area = spher_polyline_area(cont_list(n_cont)%polyline)
-       call ccw_orient(cont_list(n_cont))
+       out_cont = cont_list(n_cont)
+       out_cont%area = spher_polyline_area(out_cont%polyline)
 
-       if (cont_list(n_cont)%area < min_area) then
+       if (abs(out_cont%area) < min_area) then
           out_cont = null_ssh_contour()
           n_cont = 0
        else
-          out_cont = cont_list(n_cont)
+          call ccw_orient(out_cont)
        end if
     end if test_n_points