diff --git a/modulus/models/sfno/sfnonet.py b/modulus/models/sfno/sfnonet.py
index 7b0b75b9a5..5e272b1c99 100644
--- a/modulus/models/sfno/sfnonet.py
+++ b/modulus/models/sfno/sfnonet.py
@@ -731,10 +731,13 @@ def __init__(
             )
             # self.pos_embed = nn.Parameter( torch.zeros(1, self.embed_dim, self.img_shape_eff[0], self.img_shape_eff[1]) )
             self.pos_embed.is_shared_mp = ["matmul"]
-            trunc_normal_(self.pos_embed, std=0.02)
 
         self.apply(self._init_weights)
 
+        # doing weight init of pos_embed after other layers resolves a segfault
+        if isinstance(self.pos_embed, nn.Parameter):
+            trunc_normal_(self.pos_embed, std=0.02)
+
     def _init_weights(self, m):
         """Helper routine for weight initialization"""
         if isinstance(m, nn.Linear) or isinstance(m, nn.Conv2d):