diff --git a/src/utils/PugsUtils.cpp b/src/utils/PugsUtils.cpp
index 8f388c5b492dcd8065ed77740d322556bdc76db3..d54bd333f93107a1e093038764ebe7f088ace9df 100644
--- a/src/utils/PugsUtils.cpp
+++ b/src/utils/PugsUtils.cpp
@@ -19,6 +19,10 @@
 
 #include <iostream>
 
+// LCOV_EXCL_START
+
+// This function cannot be unit-tested: run once when pugs starts
+
 std::string
 initialize(int& argc, char* argv[])
 {
@@ -98,6 +102,12 @@ initialize(int& argc, char* argv[])
   return filename;
 }
 
+// LCOV_EXCL_STOP
+
+// LCOV_EXCL_START
+
+// This function cannot be unit-tested: run once when pugs stops
+
 void
 finalize()
 {
@@ -105,3 +115,5 @@ finalize()
   PETScWrapper::finalize();
   parallel::Messenger::destroy();
 }
+
+// LCOV_EXCL_STOP