diff --git a/blas/f2c.h b/blas/f2c.h
index 97b3b5d9a..1f7d73b81 100644
--- a/blas/f2c.h
+++ b/blas/f2c.h
@@ -22,6 +22,10 @@
 #ifndef F2C_INCLUDE
 #define F2C_INCLUDE
 
+/* MPI is not needed here, so don't include mpi.h */
+#ifndef HYPRE_SEQUENTIAL
+#define HYPRE_SEQUENTIAL 1
+#endif
 #include "_hypre_utilities.h"
 
 #ifdef HYPRE_BIGINT
diff --git a/lapack/f2c.h b/lapack/f2c.h
index 97b3b5d9a..1f7d73b81 100644
--- a/lapack/f2c.h
+++ b/lapack/f2c.h
@@ -22,6 +22,10 @@
 #ifndef F2C_INCLUDE
 #define F2C_INCLUDE
 
+/* MPI is not needed here, so don't include mpi.h */
+#ifndef HYPRE_SEQUENTIAL
+#define HYPRE_SEQUENTIAL 1
+#endif
 #include "_hypre_utilities.h"
 
 #ifdef HYPRE_BIGINT