diff --git a/CMake/InstantiationTemplate.cxx.in b/CMake/InstantiationTemplate.cxx.in
index 841c1aa1c..5988886f6 100644
--- a/CMake/InstantiationTemplate.cxx.in
+++ b/CMake/InstantiationTemplate.cxx.in
@@ -4,6 +4,9 @@
 
 #include <@INSTANTIATION_TEMPLATE_SOURCE@>
 
+/* Needed for linking errors when no instantiations */
+int @INSTANTIATION_INC_GUARD@@counter@__;
+
 @INSTANTIATION_DECLARATION@
 
 #undef @INSTANTIATION_INC_GUARD@