diff --git a/src/fof.c b/src/fof.c
index cac371c0968310f2fe53a8fb0ea1e16ee4cae346..511477bce76bdba540bcf164bfafc82226df88c4 100644
--- a/src/fof.c
+++ b/src/fof.c
@@ -136,7 +136,7 @@ void fof_init(struct fof_props *props, struct swift_params *params,
   if (props->l_x_ratio <= 0. && props->l_x_absolute == -1.)
     error("The FOF linking length ratio can't be negative!");
 
-  if (!stand_alone_fof) {
+  if (!stand_alone_fof && props->seed_black_holes_enabled) {
 
     /* Read the minimal halo mass for black hole seeding */
     props->seed_halo_mass =