diff --git a/serde_derive/src/ser.rs b/serde_derive/src/ser.rs
index 1f67f043..a2cab263 100644
--- a/serde_derive/src/ser.rs
+++ b/serde_derive/src/ser.rs
@@ -409,9 +409,9 @@ fn serialize_enum(params: &Parameters, variants: &[Variant], cattrs: &attr::Cont
         })
         .collect();
 
-    if cattrs.non_exhaustive() {
+    if cattrs.remote().is_some() && cattrs.non_exhaustive() {
         arms.push(quote! {
-            unrecognized => _serde::__private::Err(_serde::ser::Error::custom(_serde::__private::ser::CannotSerializeVariant(unrecognized))),
+            ref unrecognized => _serde::__private::Err(_serde::ser::Error::custom(_serde::__private::ser::CannotSerializeVariant(unrecognized))),
         });
     }