diff --git a/src/parallel/decompose/ptscotchDecomp/ptscotchDecomp.C b/src/parallel/decompose/ptscotchDecomp/ptscotchDecomp.C
index 7a2ec4948d..1fb105cf4f 100644
--- a/src/parallel/decompose/ptscotchDecomp/ptscotchDecomp.C
+++ b/src/parallel/decompose/ptscotchDecomp/ptscotchDecomp.C
@@ -295,6 +295,25 @@ Foam::label Foam::ptscotchDecomp::decompose
             velotab.resize(1, 1);
         }
     }
+    else
+    {
+        // HACK: specify uniform weights
+        // - seems that scotch takes different code paths internally
+        //   if weights are not specified (issue #3063)
+
+        if (numCells > 0)
+        {
+            velotab.resize(numCells);
+        }
+        else
+        {
+            // Locally zero cells but not globally.
+            // Provide some size to avoid null pointer.
+            velotab.resize(1);
+        }
+
+        velotab = static_cast<SCOTCH_Num>(1);
+    }
 
 
     //
diff --git a/src/parallel/decompose/scotchDecomp/scotchDecomp.C b/src/parallel/decompose/scotchDecomp/scotchDecomp.C
index e12252f806..c3637bd4dd 100644
--- a/src/parallel/decompose/scotchDecomp/scotchDecomp.C
+++ b/src/parallel/decompose/scotchDecomp/scotchDecomp.C
@@ -267,6 +267,15 @@ Foam::label Foam::scotchDecomp::decomposeSerial
             }
         }
     }
+    else
+    {
+        // HACK: specify uniform weights
+        // - seems that scotch takes different code paths internally
+        //   if weights are not specified (issue #3063)
+
+        velotab.resize(numCells);
+        velotab = static_cast<SCOTCH_Num>(1);
+    }
 
 
     //