diff --git a/imap_processing/cdf/config/imap_mag_l2_variable_attrs.yaml b/imap_processing/cdf/config/imap_mag_l2_variable_attrs.yaml
index d87b71530..a9ee6b2bc 100644
--- a/imap_processing/cdf/config/imap_mag_l2_variable_attrs.yaml
+++ b/imap_processing/cdf/config/imap_mag_l2_variable_attrs.yaml
@@ -50,6 +50,7 @@ vector_attrs: &vectors_default
     LABL_PTR_1: direction_label
     FILLVAL: 9223372036854775807
     FORMAT: F12.5
+    CDF_DATA_TYPE: CDF_FLOAT
     DICT_KEY: "SPASE>Field>FieldQuantity:Magnetic,Qualifier:Vector,CoordinateSystemName:DSRF,CoordinateRepresentation:Cartesian"
 
 # Frame-specific vector attributes
@@ -99,6 +100,7 @@ magnitude:
   UNITS: nT
   VALIDMIN: 0
   VALIDMAX: 1.0e+5
+  CDF_DATA_TYPE: CDF_FLOAT
   DICT_KEY: SPASE>Field>FieldQuantity:Magnetic,Qualifier:Scalar
 
 range:
@@ -111,6 +113,7 @@ range:
   UNITS: ' '
   VALIDMAX: 3
   VALIDMIN: 0
+  CDF_DATA_TYPE: CDF_UINT1
   DICT_KEY: SPASE>Support>SupportQuantity:InstrumentMode
 
 pri_sens:
diff --git a/imap_processing/mag/l2/mag_l2_data.py b/imap_processing/mag/l2/mag_l2_data.py
index e7a8af0f4..e85208103 100644
--- a/imap_processing/mag/l2/mag_l2_data.py
+++ b/imap_processing/mag/l2/mag_l2_data.py
@@ -150,7 +150,9 @@ def generate_dataset(
             self.vectors,
             name="vectors",
             dims=["epoch", "direction"],
-            attrs=attribute_manager.get_variable_attributes(vector_attrs_name),
+            attrs=attribute_manager.get_variable_attributes(
+                vector_attrs_name, check_schema=False
+            ),
         )
 
         quality_flags = xr.DataArray(
@@ -171,14 +173,18 @@ def generate_dataset(
             self.range,
             name="range",
             dims=["epoch"],
-            attrs=attribute_manager.get_variable_attributes("range"),
+            attrs=attribute_manager.get_variable_attributes(
+                "range", check_schema=False
+            ),
         )
 
         magnitude = xr.DataArray(
             self.magnitude,
             name="magnitude",
             dims=["epoch"],
-            attrs=attribute_manager.get_variable_attributes("magnitude"),
+            attrs=attribute_manager.get_variable_attributes(
+                "magnitude", check_schema=False
+            ),
         )
 
         global_attributes = (
diff --git a/imap_processing/tests/mag/test_mag_l2.py b/imap_processing/tests/mag/test_mag_l2.py
index c32bbaeac..8732d29cf 100644
--- a/imap_processing/tests/mag/test_mag_l2.py
+++ b/imap_processing/tests/mag/test_mag_l2.py
@@ -75,6 +75,7 @@ def test_mag_l2_attributes(norm_dataset, mag_test_l2_data, data_mode):
         assert dataset["range"].attrs["DICT_KEY"] == (
             "SPASE>Support>SupportQuantity:InstrumentMode"
         )
+        assert dataset["vectors"].attrs["CDF_DATA_TYPE"] == "CDF_FLOAT"
 
 
 def test_mag_l2(norm_dataset, mag_test_l2_data):