diff --git a/src/H5Part.c b/src/H5Part.c
index 06480c1..9d01a60 100644
--- a/src/H5Part.c
+++ b/src/H5Part.c
@@ -206,7 +206,7 @@ _H5Part_open_file (
 		f->comm = comm;
 #endif
 	} else {
-		f->comm = MPI_COMM_WORLD;
+		f->comm = 0;
 		f->nprocs = 1;
 		f->myproc = 0;
 		f->pnparticles =