diff --git a/cime_config/stream_cdeps.py b/cime_config/stream_cdeps.py
index 1f702a13c..28db8a905 100644
--- a/cime_config/stream_cdeps.py
+++ b/cime_config/stream_cdeps.py
@@ -204,6 +204,9 @@ def create_stream_xml(
             data_year_first, data_year_last = self._get_stream_first_and_last_dates(
                 self.stream_nodes, case
             )
+            # If this is a test we don't need the full extent of the data
+            if case.get_value("TEST"):
+                data_year_first = max(data_year_last-2, data_year_first)
 
             # now write the data model streams xml file
             stream_vars = {}