diff --git a/opm/simulators/wells/BlackoilWellModelGeneric.cpp b/opm/simulators/wells/BlackoilWellModelGeneric.cpp
index cec29bb05..c652bd4f7 100644
--- a/opm/simulators/wells/BlackoilWellModelGeneric.cpp
+++ b/opm/simulators/wells/BlackoilWellModelGeneric.cpp
@@ -1392,6 +1392,12 @@ bool
 BlackoilWellModelGeneric::
 shouldBalanceNetwork(const int reportStepIdx, const int iterationIdx) const
 {
+    // if network is not active, we do not need to balance the network
+    const auto& network = schedule()[reportStepIdx].network();
+    if (!network.active()) {
+        return false;
+    }
+
     const auto& balance = schedule()[reportStepIdx].network_balance();
     if (balance.mode() == Network::Balance::CalcMode::TimeStepStart) {
         return iterationIdx == 0;