diff --git a/src/decompositionMethods/decompositionMethods/decompositionMethod/decompositionMethod.C b/src/decompositionMethods/decompositionMethods/decompositionMethod/decompositionMethod.C
index 767538191..7fd73adec 100644
--- a/src/decompositionMethods/decompositionMethods/decompositionMethod/decompositionMethod.C
+++ b/src/decompositionMethods/decompositionMethods/decompositionMethod/decompositionMethod.C
@@ -431,6 +431,21 @@ Foam::autoPtr<Foam::decompositionMethod> Foam::decompositionMethod::New
     const dictionary& decompositionDict
 )
 {
+    // HR 11.02.18: Library table is member of runtime (like in
+    // vanilla). Therefore need runtime here and we get it by
+    // traversing to the top of the dict in the hope that it is
+    // an IOdictionary.
+    const dictionary& topDict = decompositionDict.topDict();
+    if (isA<IOdictionary>(topDict))
+    {
+        Time& time = const_cast<Time&>
+        (
+            reinterpret_cast<const Time&>(topDict)
+        );
+
+        loadExternalLibraries(time);
+    }
+
     word methodName(decompositionDict.lookup("method"));
 
     Info<< "Selecting decompositionMethod " << methodName << endl;
@@ -461,6 +476,8 @@ Foam::autoPtr<Foam::decompositionMethod> Foam::decompositionMethod::New
     const polyMesh& mesh
 )
 {
+    loadExternalLibraries(const_cast<Time&>(mesh.time()));
+
     word methodName(decompositionDict.lookup("method"));
 
     Info<< "Selecting decompositionMethod "
@@ -487,6 +504,29 @@ Foam::autoPtr<Foam::decompositionMethod> Foam::decompositionMethod::New
 }
 
 
+void Foam::decompositionMethod::loadExternalLibraries(Time& time)
+{
+    wordList libNames(3);
+    libNames[0]=word("scotchDecomp");
+    libNames[1]=word("metisDecomp");
+    libNames[2]=word("parMetisDecomp");
+
+    forAll(libNames,i)
+    {
+        const word libName("lib"+libNames[i]+".so");
+
+        if(!time.libs().open(libName))
+        {
+            WarningIn("decompositionMethod::loadExternalLibraries()")
+                << "Loading of decomposition library " << libName
+                    << " unsuccesful. Some decomposition methods may not be "
+                    << " available"
+                    << endl;
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+
 // * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Member Functions  * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
 
 Foam::labelList Foam::decompositionMethod::decompose
diff --git a/src/decompositionMethods/decompositionMethods/decompositionMethod/decompositionMethod.H b/src/decompositionMethods/decompositionMethods/decompositionMethod/decompositionMethod.H
index ef329ebe3..7a04c74d3 100644
--- a/src/decompositionMethods/decompositionMethods/decompositionMethod/decompositionMethod.H
+++ b/src/decompositionMethods/decompositionMethods/decompositionMethod/decompositionMethod.H
@@ -113,6 +113,10 @@ private:
         //- Disallow default bitwise assignment
         void operator=(const decompositionMethod&);
 
+        //- Load missing libraries to avoid compile-time linking to external dependencies
+        //  Temporary hack: to be resolved by Henrik Rusche.  HJ, 15/May/2018
+        static void loadExternalLibraries(Time& time);
+
 
 public: