diff --git a/include/numerics/petsc_solver_exception.h b/include/numerics/petsc_solver_exception.h
index 09f07d4d4c..9f2033a27c 100644
--- a/include/numerics/petsc_solver_exception.h
+++ b/include/numerics/petsc_solver_exception.h
@@ -54,7 +54,11 @@ class PetscSolverException : public SolverException
     SolverException(error_code_in)
   {
     const char * text;
+#if PETSC_VERSION_LESS_THAN(3,25,0)
     char * specific;
+#else
+    const char * specific;
+#endif
     auto ierr = PetscErrorMessage(cast_int<PetscErrorCode>(error_code), &text, &specific);
     // This is one scenario where we ignore the error code
     // returned by a PETSc function :)