diff --git a/src/finalize.cpp b/src/finalize.cpp
index 7c39a7c198..3de20d6d09 100644
--- a/src/finalize.cpp
+++ b/src/finalize.cpp
@@ -127,9 +127,7 @@ int openmc_finalize()
 
   // Free all MPI types
 #ifdef OPENMC_MPI
-  int init_called;
-  MPI_Initialized(&init_called);
-  if (init_called) MPI_Type_free(&mpi::bank);
+  if (mpi::bank != MPI_DATATYPE_NULL) MPI_Type_free(&mpi::bank);
 #endif
 
   return 0;