diff --git a/src/parcels/_core/fieldset.py b/src/parcels/_core/fieldset.py
index fdb47f8e9..feb7c3d20 100644
--- a/src/parcels/_core/fieldset.py
+++ b/src/parcels/_core/fieldset.py
@@ -214,14 +214,13 @@ def from_ugrid_conventions(cls, ds: ux.UxDataset, mesh: str = "spherical"):
         if "U" in ds.data_vars and "V" in ds.data_vars:
             fields["U"] = Field("U", ds["U"], grid, _select_uxinterpolator(ds["U"]))
             fields["V"] = Field("V", ds["V"], grid, _select_uxinterpolator(ds["V"]))
+            fields["UV"] = VectorField("UV", fields["U"], fields["V"], vector_interp_method=Ux_Velocity)
 
             if "W" in ds.data_vars:
                 fields["W"] = Field("W", ds["W"], grid, _select_uxinterpolator(ds["W"]))
                 fields["UVW"] = VectorField(
                     "UVW", fields["U"], fields["V"], fields["W"], vector_interp_method=Ux_Velocity
                 )
-            else:
-                fields["UV"] = VectorField("UV", fields["U"], fields["V"], vector_interp_method=Ux_Velocity)
 
         for varname in set(ds.data_vars) - set(fields.keys()):
             fields[varname] = Field(varname, ds[varname], grid, _select_uxinterpolator(ds[varname]))
diff --git a/tests/test_fieldset.py b/tests/test_fieldset.py
index 8056d4617..b2b05d33f 100644
--- a/tests/test_fieldset.py
+++ b/tests/test_fieldset.py
@@ -255,6 +255,7 @@ def test_fieldset_from_fesom2():
     fieldset = FieldSet.from_ugrid_conventions(ds)
     assert "U" in fieldset.fields
     assert "V" in fieldset.fields
+    assert "UV" in fieldset.fields
     assert "UVW" in fieldset.fields