diff --git a/opm/core/simulator/SimulatorOutput.cpp b/opm/core/simulator/SimulatorOutput.cpp
index 44b80a16..cfbf7547 100644
--- a/opm/core/simulator/SimulatorOutput.cpp
+++ b/opm/core/simulator/SimulatorOutput.cpp
@@ -60,6 +60,9 @@ SimulatorOutputBase::SimulatorOutputBase (
     writer_->writeInit (*timer);
 }
 
+// default destructor is OK, just need to be defined
+SimulatorOutputBase::~SimulatorOutputBase() { }
+
 SimulatorOutputBase::operator std::function <void ()> () {
     // return (a pointer to) the writeOutput() function as an object
     // which can be passed to the event available from the simulator
diff --git a/opm/core/simulator/SimulatorOutput.hpp b/opm/core/simulator/SimulatorOutput.hpp
index 7a0fc061..3db38932 100644
--- a/opm/core/simulator/SimulatorOutput.hpp
+++ b/opm/core/simulator/SimulatorOutput.hpp
@@ -55,6 +55,12 @@ protected:
                          std::shared_ptr <BlackoilState> state,
                          std::shared_ptr <WellState> wellState);
 
+    /**
+     * We need a destructor in the compilation unit to avoid the
+     * OutputWriter being a complete type here.
+     */
+    virtual ~SimulatorOutputBase ();
+
     /**
      * Conversion operator which allows the object to be directly passed
      * into an Event and used as a handler.