diff --git a/lib/io/mesh_io.cpp b/lib/io/mesh_io.cpp
index c1b924e..687b4c2 100644
--- a/lib/io/mesh_io.cpp
+++ b/lib/io/mesh_io.cpp
@@ -574,7 +574,7 @@ void gctl::mesh_io::select_elements(std::string dat_name, mesh_data_type_e dtype
     if (!selected_groups_.empty()) selected_groups_.clear();
 
     int d_id = if_saved_data(dat_name, dtype);
-    if (d_id == DEFAULT_INVALID_TAG) throw std::runtime_error("[gctl::mesh_io::select_elements] Data not found.");
+    if (d_id == -1) throw std::runtime_error("[gctl::mesh_io::select_elements] Data not found.");
 
     if (dtype == ElemData)
     {