diff --git a/python/lammps.py b/python/lammps.py
index 23abd7f772..4b40721a03 100644
--- a/python/lammps.py
+++ b/python/lammps.py
@@ -33,8 +33,8 @@ class lammps:
     except:
       try:
         self.lib = CDLL("_lammps_serial.so")
-      #except:
-      #  raise OSError,"Could not load LAMMPS dynamic library"
+      except:
+        raise OSError,"Could not load LAMMPS dynamic library"
 
     # create an instance of LAMMPS
     # don't know how to pass an MPI communicator from PyPar