diff --git a/modules/util/util.py b/modules/util/util.py
index 38594e1543ae0b4edd55488daa9f4e44a0d22ae0..445e5a9e76b504e94e2472a15be180842b34cc19 100644
--- a/modules/util/util.py
+++ b/modules/util/util.py
@@ -231,6 +231,7 @@ def pressure_to_altitude(pres, temp, prof_pres, prof_temp, sfc_pres=None, sfc_te
 
     if sfc_pres is not None:
         if pres > sfc_pres:  # incoming pressure below surface
+            print(pres, sfc_pres)
             return -999.0
 
         prof_pres = np.array(pres_s)
@@ -261,7 +262,7 @@ def pressure_to_altitude(pres, temp, prof_pres, prof_temp, sfc_pres=None, sfc_te
 
     z = thickness_hydrostatic(prof_pres, prof_temp) + sfc_elev
 
-    return z
+    return z.magnitude
 
 
 # http://fourier.eng.hmc.edu/e176/lectures/NM/node25.html