diff --git a/Allwmake.firstInstall b/Allwmake.firstInstall
index d7f5703a4..d66ed7c66 100755
--- a/Allwmake.firstInstall
+++ b/Allwmake.firstInstall
@@ -33,7 +33,32 @@ then
     then
         exit 0
     fi
-fi  
+fi 
+
+# Check whether we will be compiling cudaSolvers
+if [ -f $CUDA_BIN_DIR/nvcc ]
+then
+    echo
+    echo "Cuda compiler detected at $CUDA_BIN_DIR/nvcc;"
+    echo "cudaSolvers will be compiled by default."
+    echo
+
+    # If yes, check presence of $CUDA_ARCH 
+    if [ -z "$CUDA_ARCH" ]
+    then
+        echo
+        echo "\$CUDA_ARCH is required by nvcc compiler but not set."
+        echo "Check section '-gpu-architecture' in 'man nvcc' for details." 
+        echo
+        read -r -p "Proceed without compiling cudaSolvers? [Y/n] " response
+        if [[ $response =~ ^([nN][oO]|[nN])$ ]]
+        then
+            exit 0
+        fi
+        export CUDA_IGNORE
+    fi
+    echo "Cuda architecture set to: $CUDA_ARCH"
+fi
 
 # wmake is required for subsequent targets
 ( cd wmake/src && make )
diff --git a/src/cudaSolvers/Allwmake b/src/cudaSolvers/Allwmake
index 479f97dc5..77d376d04 100755
--- a/src/cudaSolvers/Allwmake
+++ b/src/cudaSolvers/Allwmake
@@ -1,13 +1,17 @@
 #!/bin/sh
 cd ${0%/*} || exit 1    # run from this directory
 
-if [ -f $CUDA_BIN_DIR/nvcc ]
+if [ -f $CUDA_BIN_DIR/nvcc ] 
 then
-    echo "Found nvcc  --  enabling CUDA support."
-    wmake libso
+    if [ -z $CUDA_IGNORE ]
+    then
+        echo "Found nvcc but \$CUDA_IGNORE set -- not  enabling CUDA support."
+    else
+        echo "Found nvcc  --  enabling CUDA support."
+        wmake libso
+    fi 
 else
     echo "No nvcc - CUDA not available."
 fi
 
-
 # ----------------------------------------------------------------- end-of-file