diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index fcc2b2876..6eb29b82d 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -127,7 +127,8 @@ if(Cabana_ENABLE_HDF5)
   LIST(APPEND CMAKE_REQUIRED_INCLUDES ${HDF5_INCLUDE_DIRS})
   check_symbol_exists(H5_HAVE_PARALLEL "H5pubconf.h" HDF5_IS_PARALLEL)
   if(NOT HDF5_IS_PARALLEL)
-    message(FATAL_ERROR "Cabana HDF5 support requires parallel HDF5.")
+    set(Cabana_ENABLE_HDF5 OFF)
+    message(WARNING "Cabana HDF5 support requires parallel HDF5.")
   endif()
 endif()