diff --git a/Src/Base/AMReX_MFIter.H b/Src/Base/AMReX_MFIter.H
index 2d0c631731b..9e968aa1d8b 100644
--- a/Src/Base/AMReX_MFIter.H
+++ b/Src/Base/AMReX_MFIter.H
@@ -180,7 +180,7 @@ protected:
     IndexType     typ;
 
     bool          dynamic;
-    bool          initialized;
+    bool          finalized = false;
 
     struct DeviceSync {
         DeviceSync () = default;
diff --git a/Src/Base/AMReX_MFIter.cpp b/Src/Base/AMReX_MFIter.cpp
index 4c18feef66f..4cd9832b747 100644
--- a/Src/Base/AMReX_MFIter.cpp
+++ b/Src/Base/AMReX_MFIter.cpp
@@ -215,13 +215,13 @@ MFIter::~MFIter ()
 void
 MFIter::Finalize ()
 {
-    if (!initialized) return;
+    if (finalized) return;
+    finalized = true;
 
 #ifdef AMREX_USE_OMP
 #pragma omp master
 #endif
     {
-        initialized = false;
         depth = 0;
     }
 
@@ -357,13 +357,6 @@ MFIter::Initialize ()
 
         typ = fabArray.boxArray().ixType();
     }
-
-#ifdef AMREX_USE_OMP
-#pragma omp master
-#endif
-    {
-        initialized = true;
-    }
 }
 
 Box