diff --git a/src/lisflood/hydrological_modules/routing.py b/src/lisflood/hydrological_modules/routing.py
index c126a76..a42b7ae 100644
--- a/src/lisflood/hydrological_modules/routing.py
+++ b/src/lisflood/hydrological_modules/routing.py
@@ -19,6 +19,8 @@
 from pcraster import lddmask, accuflux, boolean, downstream, pit, path, lddrepair, ifthenelse, cover, nominal, uniqueid, \
     catchment, upstream, pcr2numpy
 
+import warnings
+
 import numpy as np
 
 from .lakes import lakes
@@ -30,6 +32,7 @@
 from .mct import MCTWave
 
 from ..global_modules.settings import LisSettings, MaskInfo
+from ..global_modules.errors import LisfloodWarning
 from ..global_modules.add1 import loadmap, loadmap_base, compressArray, decompress
 from . import HydroModule
 
@@ -527,11 +530,18 @@ def initialMCT(self):
         # ************************************************************
         # ***** INITIALISATION FOR MCT ROUTING            ************
         # ************************************************************
+        
+        # even if MCT is active, it should be deactivated if there is no MCT cell in the domain
         if option['MCTRouting']:
-            maskinfo = MaskInfo.instance()
-
             self.var.IsChannelMCTPcr = boolean(loadmap('ChannelsMCT', pcr=True))   #pcr
             self.var.IsChannelMCT = np.bool8(compressArray(self.var.IsChannelMCTPcr))   #bool
+            if self.var.IsChannelMCT.sum()==0:
+                warnings.warn(LisfloodWarning('There are no MCT grid cell. MCT routing is deactivated'))
+                option['MCTRouting'] = False
+        
+        if option['MCTRouting']:
+            maskinfo = MaskInfo.instance()
+
             self.var.IsChannelMCTPcr = boolean(decompress(self.var.IsChannelMCT))       # pcr
             # Identify channel pixels where Muskingum-Cunge-Todini is used