diff --git a/src/vt/vrt/collection/balance/model/load_model.h b/src/vt/vrt/collection/balance/model/load_model.h
index d3458c9800..c0d14d2bfc 100644
--- a/src/vt/vrt/collection/balance/model/load_model.h
+++ b/src/vt/vrt/collection/balance/model/load_model.h
@@ -222,7 +222,7 @@ struct LoadModel
    *
    * \return the comm info
    */
-  virtual CommMapType getComm(PhaseOffset when) const {
+  virtual CommMapType getComm([[maybe_unused]] PhaseOffset when) const {
     return CommMapType{};
   }