diff --git a/src/c/toolkits/objects/Vector.h b/src/c/toolkits/objects/Vector.h
index aa1dbae45..70378336e 100644
--- a/src/c/toolkits/objects/Vector.h
+++ b/src/c/toolkits/objects/Vector.h
@@ -298,6 +298,8 @@ class Vector{
 			if(type==PetscVecType){
 				#ifdef _HAVE_PETSC_
 				vec_serial=this->pvector->ToMPISerial0();
+				#else
+				_error_("Cannot serialize PETSc Vec without PETSc");
 				#endif
 			}
 			else vec_serial=this->ivector->ToMPISerial0();