diff --git a/opm/core/linalg/LinearSolverFactory.cpp b/opm/core/linalg/LinearSolverFactory.cpp
index d2bd3120..f8eca83d 100644
--- a/opm/core/linalg/LinearSolverFactory.cpp
+++ b/opm/core/linalg/LinearSolverFactory.cpp
@@ -61,8 +61,19 @@ namespace Opm
 
     LinearSolverFactory::LinearSolverFactory(const parameter::ParameterGroup& param)
     {
+#if HAVE_SUITESPARSE_UMFPACK_H
+        std::string default_solver = "umfpack";
+#elif HAVE_DUNE_ISTL
+        std::string default_solver = "istl";
+#elif HAVE_PETSC
+        std::string default_solver = "petsc";
+#else
+        std::string default_solver = "no_solver_available";
+        OPM_THROW(std::runtime_error, "No linear solver available, you must have UMFPACK , dune-istl or Petsc installed to use LinearSolverFactory.");
+#endif
+
         const std::string ls =
-            param.getDefault<std::string>("linsolver", "umfpack");
+            param.getDefault("linsolver", default_solver);
 
         if (ls == "umfpack") {
 #if HAVE_SUITESPARSE_UMFPACK_H