diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 3e915a4d9a..3d6619f999 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -29,3 +29,7 @@ build/
 # Doxygen generated files
 html/
 *.html
+
+# Visual Studio
+.vs/
+CMakeSettings.json
diff --git a/source/adios2/core/Engine.cpp b/source/adios2/core/Engine.cpp
index c0f1f9613a..6c8e2d82c9 100644
--- a/source/adios2/core/Engine.cpp
+++ b/source/adios2/core/Engine.cpp
@@ -106,12 +106,14 @@ ADIOS2_FOREACH_TYPE_1ARG(declare_type)
     Engine::DoAllStepsBlocksInfo(const Variable<T> &variable) const            \
     {                                                                          \
         ThrowUp("DoAllStepsBlocksInfo");                                       \
+        return std::map<size_t, std::vector<typename Variable<T>::Info>>();    \
     }                                                                          \
                                                                                \
     std::vector<typename Variable<T>::Info> Engine::DoBlocksInfo(              \
         const Variable<T> &variable, const size_t step) const                  \
     {                                                                          \
         ThrowUp("DoBlocksInfo");                                               \
+         return std::vector<typename Variable<T>::Info>();                     \
     }
 
 ADIOS2_FOREACH_TYPE_1ARG(declare_type)