diff --git a/opm/autodiff/BlackoilAquiferModel.hpp b/opm/autodiff/BlackoilAquiferModel.hpp
index a10f4500e..694223ea2 100644
--- a/opm/autodiff/BlackoilAquiferModel.hpp
+++ b/opm/autodiff/BlackoilAquiferModel.hpp
@@ -71,10 +71,12 @@ namespace Opm {
             // at the beginning of each time step (Not report step)
             void prepareTimeStep(const SimulatorTimerInterface& timer);
 
+            bool aquiferActive() const;
+
         };
 
 
 } // namespace Opm
 
 #include "BlackoilAquiferModel_impl.hpp"
-#endif
\ No newline at end of file
+#endif
diff --git a/opm/autodiff/BlackoilAquiferModel_impl.hpp b/opm/autodiff/BlackoilAquiferModel_impl.hpp
index 9671c1691..e92c952cc 100644
--- a/opm/autodiff/BlackoilAquiferModel_impl.hpp
+++ b/opm/autodiff/BlackoilAquiferModel_impl.hpp
@@ -15,6 +15,10 @@ namespace Opm {
     void
     BlackoilAquiferModel<TypeTag>:: timeStepSucceeded(const SimulatorTimerInterface& timer)
     {
+        if ( !aquiferActive() ) {
+            return;
+        }
+
         for (auto aquifer = aquifers_.begin(); aquifer != aquifers_.end(); ++aquifer)
         {
             aquifer->afterTimeStep(timer);
@@ -27,6 +31,10 @@ namespace Opm {
     assemble( const SimulatorTimerInterface& timer,
               const int iterationIdx                )
     {
+        if ( !aquiferActive() ) {
+            return;
+        }
+
         // We need to update the reservoir pressures connected to the aquifer
         updateConnectionIntensiveQuantities();
 
@@ -85,8 +93,13 @@ namespace Opm {
     void
     BlackoilAquiferModel<TypeTag>:: init()
     {
-        updateConnectionIntensiveQuantities();
         const auto& deck = ebosSimulator_.vanguard().deck();
+
+        if ( !deck.hasKeyword("AQUCT") ) {
+            return ;
+        }
+
+        updateConnectionIntensiveQuantities();
         const auto& eclState = ebosSimulator_.vanguard().eclState();
         
         // Get all the carter tracy aquifer properties data and put it in aquifers vector
@@ -107,4 +120,11 @@ namespace Opm {
         }
     }
 
-} // namespace Opm
\ No newline at end of file
+    template<typename TypeTag>
+    bool
+    BlackoilAquiferModel<TypeTag>:: aquiferActive() const
+    {
+        return !aquifers_.empty();
+    }
+
+} // namespace Opm