diff --git a/src/mpiio.h b/src/mpiio.h
index 9b67fac532..f984fa5bf7 100644
--- a/src/mpiio.h
+++ b/src/mpiio.h
@@ -19,6 +19,10 @@
 
 #ifdef LMP_MPIIO
 
+#if defined(MPI_STUBS)
+#error "The MPIIO package cannot be compiled in serial with MPI STUBS"
+#endif
+
 #include "restart_mpiio.h"
 
 #else