diff --git a/src/core/lbgpu_cuda.cu b/src/core/lbgpu_cuda.cu
index 16d537e8d51..ec2f7ddfd41 100644
--- a/src/core/lbgpu_cuda.cu
+++ b/src/core/lbgpu_cuda.cu
@@ -3592,10 +3592,7 @@ __global__ void integrate(LB_nodes_gpu n_a, LB_nodes_gpu n_b, LB_rho_v_gpu *d_v,
     if (para.fluct) {
       thermalize_modes(mode, index, &rng);
     }
-#if defined(EXTERNAL_FORCES) || defined(SHANCHEN)
-    /**if external force is used apply node force */
     apply_forces(index, mode, node_f, d_v);
-#endif
     /**lb_calc_n_from_modes_push*/
     normalize_modes(mode);
     /**calc of velocity densities and streaming with pbc*/
diff --git a/src/core/virtual_sites/lb_inertialess_tracers.cpp b/src/core/virtual_sites/lb_inertialess_tracers.cpp
index e202f0d4fd6..4aada281858 100644
--- a/src/core/virtual_sites/lb_inertialess_tracers.cpp
+++ b/src/core/virtual_sites/lb_inertialess_tracers.cpp
@@ -144,11 +144,17 @@ void IBM_UpdateParticlePositions(ParticleRange particles) {
     Particle *const p = cell->part;
     for (int j = 0; j < cell->n; j++)
       if (p[j].p.is_virtual) {
+#ifdef EXTERNAL_FORCES
         if (!(p[j].p.ext_flag & 2))
+#endif
           p[j].r.p[0] = p[j].r.p[0] + p[j].m.v[0] * time_step;
+#ifdef EXTERNAL_FORCES
         if (!(p[j].p.ext_flag & 4))
+#endif
           p[j].r.p[1] = p[j].r.p[1] + p[j].m.v[1] * time_step;
+#ifdef EXTERNAL_FORCES
         if (!(p[j].p.ext_flag & 8))
+#endif
           p[j].r.p[2] = p[j].r.p[2] + p[j].m.v[2] * time_step;
 
         // Check if the particle might have crossed a box border (criterion see
diff --git a/testsuite/lb.py b/testsuite/lb.py
index 4c8283a3a99..7f9bed17638 100644
--- a/testsuite/lb.py
+++ b/testsuite/lb.py
@@ -230,6 +230,8 @@ def test_viscous_coupling(self):
         np.testing.assert_allclose(
             np.copy(self.system.part[0].f), -self.params['friction'] * (v_part - v_fluid), atol=1E-6)
 
+    @ut.skipIf(not espressomd.has_features("EXTERNAL_FORCES"),
+               "Features not available, skipping test!")
     def test_a_ext_force_density(self):
         self.system.thermostat.turn_off()
         self.system.actors.clear()