diff --git a/src/interface/metadata.cpp b/src/interface/metadata.cpp
index fce88334c652..e5bac4f9365a 100644
--- a/src/interface/metadata.cpp
+++ b/src/interface/metadata.cpp
@@ -263,6 +263,13 @@ bool Metadata::IsValid(bool throw_on_fail) const {
     }
   }
 
+  // Associated fluxes
+  if (IsSet(FluxNotOneCopy)) {
+    PARTHENON_REQUIRE(
+        IsSet(WithFluxes),
+        "Asking for non-OneCopy associated fluxes without asking for associated fluxes.");
+  }
+
   return valid;
 }
 
diff --git a/src/interface/metadata.hpp b/src/interface/metadata.hpp
index 5770323c21ba..f64901c71b63 100644
--- a/src/interface/metadata.hpp
+++ b/src/interface/metadata.hpp
@@ -120,6 +120,8 @@
   PARTHENON_INTERNAL_FOR_FLAG(Fine)                                                      \
   /** this variable is the flux for another variable **/                                 \
   PARTHENON_INTERNAL_FOR_FLAG(Flux)                                                      \
+  /** allocate a separate flux array for each stage if WithFluxes is specified**/        \
+  PARTHENON_INTERNAL_FOR_FLAG(FluxNotOneCopy)                                            \
   /************************************************/                                     \
   /** Vars specifying coordinates for visualization purposes **/                         \
   /** You can specify a single 3D var **/                                                \
diff --git a/src/interface/state_descriptor.cpp b/src/interface/state_descriptor.cpp
index aa3fa5e6af27..84619d78d28d 100644
--- a/src/interface/state_descriptor.cpp
+++ b/src/interface/state_descriptor.cpp
@@ -274,7 +274,8 @@ bool StateDescriptor::AddFieldImpl(const VarID &vid, const Metadata &m_in,
     return false; // this field has already been added
   } else {
     if (m.IsSet(Metadata::WithFluxes) && m.GetFluxName() == "") {
-      std::vector<MetadataFlag> mFlags = {Metadata::OneCopy, Metadata::Flux};
+      std::vector<MetadataFlag> mFlags = {Metadata::Flux};
+      if (!m.IsSet(Metadata::FluxNotOneCopy)) mFlags.push_back(Metadata::OneCopy);
       if (m.IsSet(Metadata::Sparse)) mFlags.push_back(Metadata::Sparse);
       if (m.IsSet(Metadata::Fine)) mFlags.push_back(Metadata::Fine);
       if (m.IsSet(Metadata::Cell))