diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index f006e512..c0b8d3fa 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -22,3 +22,5 @@
 
 NFsim_v1.11/tests/smoke/SimID_273069657_0_.gdat
 NFsim_v1.11/tests/smoke/SimID_273069657_0_.species
+
+IDAWin/tests/smoke/SimID_1489333437_0_.ida
diff --git a/IDAWin/SundialsSolverStandalone.cpp b/IDAWin/SundialsSolverStandalone.cpp
index bf88dadd..bbdcf3e6 100644
--- a/IDAWin/SundialsSolverStandalone.cpp
+++ b/IDAWin/SundialsSolverStandalone.cpp
@@ -194,6 +194,12 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[]) {
 				break;
 			}
 		}
+#ifdef USE_MESSAGING
+		// should only happen during testing for solver compiled with messaging but run locally.
+		if (SimulationMessaging::getInstVar() == nullptr) {
+			SimulationMessaging::create();
+		}
+#endif
 
 		if (solver.empty()) {
 			throw "Solver not defined ";