diff --git a/src/sampling/sampledSurface/sampledSurfaces/sampledSurfaces.C b/src/sampling/sampledSurface/sampledSurfaces/sampledSurfaces.C
index c480ec3..051e440 100644
--- a/src/sampling/sampledSurface/sampledSurfaces/sampledSurfaces.C
+++ b/src/sampling/sampledSurface/sampledSurfaces/sampledSurfaces.C
@@ -217,7 +217,20 @@ void Foam::sampledSurfaces::read(const dictionary& dict)
     {
         dict.lookup("fields") >> fieldSelection_;
 
-        dict.lookup("interpolationScheme") >> interpolationScheme_;
+        if(dict.found("interpolationScheme"))
+        {
+            dict.lookup("interpolationScheme") >> interpolationScheme_;
+        }
+        else
+        {
+            WarningIn("sampledSurfaces::read(const dictionary& dict)")
+                << "'interpolationScheme' is not defined in: " << nl
+                << "      " << dict.name() << nl
+                << "    "
+                << "It is only required for when interpolating volume fields."
+                << endl;
+        }
+
         const word writeType(dict.lookup("surfaceFormat"));
 
         // define the surface formatter