diff --git a/parm/land/prep/prep_ims.yaml b/parm/land/prep/prep_ims.yaml
index d37d58a44..694a73d02 100644
--- a/parm/land/prep/prep_ims.yaml
+++ b/parm/land/prep/prep_ims.yaml
@@ -1,10 +1,10 @@
 calcfims:
   mkdir:
-    - $(DATA)/obs
+    - {{ DATA }}/obs
   copy:
-    - [$(COM_OBS)/$(OPREFIX)ims{{ current_cycle | to_julian }}_4km_v1.3.nc, $(DATA)/obs/ims{{ current_cycle | to_julian }}_4km_v1.3.nc]
-    - [$(COM_OBS)/$(OPREFIX)IMS4km_to_FV3_mapping.$(CASE)_oro_data.nc, $(DATA)/obs/IMS4km_to_FV3_mapping.$(CASE)_oro_data.nc]
+    - [{{ COM_OBS }}/{{ OPREFIX }}ims{{ current_cycle | to_julian }}_4km_v1.3.nc, {{ DATA }}/obs/ims{{ current_cycle | to_julian }}_4km_v1.3.nc]
+    - [{{ COM_OBS }}/{{ OPREFIX }}IMS4km_to_FV3_mapping.{{ CASE }}_oro_data.nc, {{ DATA }}/obs/IMS4km_to_FV3_mapping.{{ CASE }}_oro_data.nc]
 ims2ioda:
   copy:
-    - [$(DATA)/ims_snow_{{ current_cycle | to_YMDH }}.nc4, $(DATA)/obs/$(OPREFIX)ims_snow.nc4]
+    - [{{ DATA }}/ims_snow_{{ current_cycle | to_YMDH }}.nc4, {{ COM_OBS }}/{{ OPREFIX }}ims_snow.nc4]