diff --git a/base/modules/psb_indx_map_mod.f90 b/base/modules/psb_indx_map_mod.f90
index 7325aca1..64f82fab 100644
--- a/base/modules/psb_indx_map_mod.f90
+++ b/base/modules/psb_indx_map_mod.f90
@@ -180,6 +180,15 @@ module psb_indx_map_mod
 
 contains
 
+
+  function base_get_fmt(idxmap) result(res)
+    implicit none 
+    class(psb_indx_map), intent(in) :: idxmap
+    character(len=5) :: res
+    res = 'NULL'
+  end function base_get_fmt
+
+
   function base_get_state(idxmap) result(val)
     implicit none 
     class(psb_indx_map), intent(in) :: idxmap
@@ -766,15 +775,6 @@ contains
 
   end subroutine base_set_null
 
-
-  function base_get_fmt(idxmap) result(res)
-    implicit none 
-    class(psb_indx_map), intent(in) :: idxmap
-    character(len=5) :: res
-    res = 'NULL'
-  end function base_get_fmt
-
-
   subroutine base_init_vl(idxmap,ictxt,vl,info)
     use psb_penv_mod
     use psb_error_mod