diff --git a/cmake/Modules/Packages/MESSAGE.cmake b/cmake/Modules/Packages/MESSAGE.cmake
index 28336c76cd..0b7ca5e9af 100644
--- a/cmake/Modules/Packages/MESSAGE.cmake
+++ b/cmake/Modules/Packages/MESSAGE.cmake
@@ -12,11 +12,12 @@ if(PKG_MESSAGE)
   if(BUILD_MPI)
     target_compile_definitions(cslib PRIVATE -DMPI_YES)
     set_target_properties(cslib PROPERTIES OUTPUT_NAME "csmpi")
+    target_link_libraries(cslib PRIVATE MPI::MPI_CXX)
   else()
     target_compile_definitions(cslib PRIVATE -DMPI_NO)
+    target_include_directories(cslib PRIVATE ${LAMMPS_LIB_SOURCE_DIR}/message/cslib/src/STUBS_MPI)
     set_target_properties(cslib PROPERTIES OUTPUT_NAME "csnompi")
   endif()
-  target_link_libraries(cslib PRIVATE MPI::MPI_CXX)
 
   if(MESSAGE_ZMQ)
     target_compile_definitions(cslib PRIVATE -DZMQ_YES)