diff --git a/include/numerics/numeric_vector.h b/include/numerics/numeric_vector.h
index fb90bc33706..0eea10e1912 100644
--- a/include/numerics/numeric_vector.h
+++ b/include/numerics/numeric_vector.h
@@ -139,7 +139,8 @@ class NumericVector : public ReferenceCountedObject<NumericVector<T>>,
    */
   static std::unique_ptr<NumericVector<T>>
   build(const Parallel::Communicator & comm,
-        const SolverPackage solver_package = libMesh::default_solver_package());
+        SolverPackage solver_package = libMesh::default_solver_package(),
+        ParallelType parallel_type = AUTOMATIC);
 
   /**
    * \returns \p true if the vector has been initialized,
@@ -154,8 +155,25 @@ class NumericVector : public ReferenceCountedObject<NumericVector<T>>,
 
   /**
    * \returns The type (SERIAL, PARALLEL, GHOSTED) of the vector.
+   *
+   * \deprecated because it is dangerous to change the ParallelType
+   * of an already-initialized NumericVector. See NumericVector::set_type()
+   * for a safer, non-deprecated setter.
    */
+#ifdef LIBMESH_ENABLE_DEPRECATED
   ParallelType & type() { return _type; }
+#endif
+
+  /**
+   * Allow the user to change the ParallelType of the NumericVector
+   * under some circumstances. If the NumericVector has not been
+   * initialized yet, then it is generally safe to change the
+   * ParallelType. otherwise, if the NumericVector has already been
+   * initialized with a specific type, we cannot change it without
+   * doing some extra copying/reinitialization work, and we currently
+   * throw an error if this is requested.
+   */
+  void set_type(ParallelType t);
 
   /**
    * \returns \p true if the vector is closed and ready for
diff --git a/src/numerics/numeric_vector.C b/src/numerics/numeric_vector.C
index 4fd45749ad1..8c95827aa4e 100644
--- a/src/numerics/numeric_vector.C
+++ b/src/numerics/numeric_vector.C
@@ -47,7 +47,9 @@ namespace libMesh
 // Full specialization for Real datatypes
 template <typename T>
 std::unique_ptr<NumericVector<T>>
-NumericVector<T>::build(const Parallel::Communicator & comm, const SolverPackage solver_package)
+NumericVector<T>::build(const Parallel::Communicator & comm,
+                        SolverPackage solver_package,
+                        ParallelType parallel_type)
 {
   // Build the appropriate vector
   switch (solver_package)
@@ -55,31 +57,62 @@ NumericVector<T>::build(const Parallel::Communicator & comm, const SolverPackage
 
 #ifdef LIBMESH_HAVE_LASPACK
     case LASPACK_SOLVERS:
-      return std::make_unique<LaspackVector<T>>(comm, AUTOMATIC);
+      return std::make_unique<LaspackVector<T>>(comm, parallel_type);
 #endif
 
 #ifdef LIBMESH_HAVE_PETSC
     case PETSC_SOLVERS:
-      return std::make_unique<PetscVector<T>>(comm, AUTOMATIC);
+      return std::make_unique<PetscVector<T>>(comm, parallel_type);
 #endif
 
 #ifdef LIBMESH_TRILINOS_HAVE_EPETRA
     case TRILINOS_SOLVERS:
-      return std::make_unique<EpetraVector<T>>(comm, AUTOMATIC);
+      return std::make_unique<EpetraVector<T>>(comm, parallel_type);
 #endif
 
 #ifdef LIBMESH_HAVE_EIGEN
     case EIGEN_SOLVERS:
-      return std::make_unique<EigenSparseVector<T>>(comm, AUTOMATIC);
+      return std::make_unique<EigenSparseVector<T>>(comm, parallel_type);
 #endif
 
     default:
-      return std::make_unique<DistributedVector<T>>(comm, AUTOMATIC);
+      return std::make_unique<DistributedVector<T>>(comm, parallel_type);
     }
 }
 
 
 
+template <typename T>
+void NumericVector<T>::set_type(ParallelType t)
+{
+  // Check for no-op
+  if (_type == t)
+    return;
+
+  // If the NumericVector is not yet initialized, then it is generally
+  // safe to change the ParallelType, with minor restrictions.
+  if (!this->initialized())
+    {
+      // If ghosted vectors are not enabled and the user requested a
+      // GHOSTED vector, fall back on SERIAL.
+#ifndef LIBMESH_ENABLE_GHOSTED
+      if (t == GHOSTED)
+        {
+          _type = SERIAL;
+          return;
+        }
+#endif
+
+      _type = t;
+      return;
+    }
+
+  // If we made it here, then the NumericVector was already
+  // initialized and we don't currently allow the ParallelType to be
+  // changed, although this could potentially be added later.
+  libmesh_not_implemented();
+}
+
 template <typename T>
 void NumericVector<T>::insert (const T * v,
                                const std::vector<numeric_index_type> & dof_indices)
diff --git a/src/systems/system.C b/src/systems/system.C
index 5c4fa61021a..dabcdbf06b2 100644
--- a/src/systems/system.C
+++ b/src/systems/system.C
@@ -792,7 +792,9 @@ NumericVector<Number> & System::add_vector (std::string_view vec_name,
                   vec.swap(*new_vec);
                 }
               else
-                vec.type() = type;
+                // The PARALLEL vec is not yet initialized, so we can
+                // just "upgrade" it to GHOSTED.
+                vec.set_type(type);
             }
         }
 
@@ -800,11 +802,19 @@ NumericVector<Number> & System::add_vector (std::string_view vec_name,
       return vec;
     }
 
-  // Otherwise build the vector
-  auto pr = _vectors.emplace(vec_name, NumericVector<Number>::build(this->comm()));
+  // Otherwise, build the vector. The following emplace() is
+  // guaranteed to succeed because, if we made it here, we don't
+  // already have a vector named "vec_name". We pass the user's
+  // requested ParallelType directly to NumericVector::build() so
+  // that, even if the vector is not initialized now, it will get the
+  // right type when it is initialized later.
+  auto pr =
+    _vectors.emplace(vec_name,
+                     NumericVector<Number>::build(this->comm(),
+                                                  libMesh::default_solver_package(),
+                                                  type));
   auto buf = pr.first->second.get();
   _vector_projections.emplace(vec_name, projections);
-  buf->type() = type;
 
   // Vectors are primal by default
   _vector_is_adjoint.emplace(vec_name, -1);