diff --git a/src/read_data.cpp b/src/read_data.cpp
index 4b790f343c..5403f5bf02 100644
--- a/src/read_data.cpp
+++ b/src/read_data.cpp
@@ -123,6 +123,7 @@ void ReadData::command(int narg, char **arg)
   // optional args
 
   addflag = NONE;
+  no_coeffs = 0;
   id_offset = 0;
   offsetflag = shiftflag = 0;
   toffset = boffset = aoffset = doffset = ioffset = 0;
@@ -172,7 +173,9 @@ void ReadData::command(int narg, char **arg)
       if (domain->dimension == 2 && shift[2] != 0.0)
         error->all(FLERR,"Non-zero read_data shift z value for 2d simulation");
       iarg += 4;
-
+    } else if (strcmp(arg[iarg],"nocoeff") == 0) {
+      no_coeffs = 1;
+      iarg ++;
     } else if (strcmp(arg[iarg],"extra/atom/types") == 0) {
       if (iarg+2 > narg) error->all(FLERR,"Illegal read_data command");
       extra_atom_types = force->inumeric(FLERR,arg[iarg+1]);
@@ -279,6 +282,49 @@ void ReadData::command(int narg, char **arg)
     MPI_Allreduce(&max,&id_offset,1,MPI_LMP_TAGINT,MPI_MAX,world);
   }
 
+  // set up pointer to hold original styles while we replace them with "zero"
+  Pair *saved_pair = NULL;
+  Bond *saved_bond = NULL;
+  Angle *saved_angle = NULL;
+  Dihedral *saved_dihedral = NULL;
+  Improper *saved_improper = NULL;
+  KSpace *saved_kspace = NULL;
+
+  if (no_coeffs) {
+    char *coeffs[2];
+    coeffs[0] = (char *) "10.0";
+    coeffs[1] = (char *) "nocoeff";
+
+    saved_pair = force->pair;
+    force->pair = NULL;
+    force->create_pair("zero",0);
+    if (force->pair) force->pair->settings(2,coeffs);
+
+    coeffs[0] = coeffs[1];
+    saved_bond = force->bond;
+    force->bond = NULL;
+    force->create_bond("zero",0);
+    if (force->bond) force->bond->settings(1,coeffs);
+
+    saved_angle = force->angle;
+    force->angle = NULL;
+    force->create_angle("zero",0);
+    if (force->angle) force->angle->settings(1,coeffs);
+
+    saved_dihedral = force->dihedral;
+    force->dihedral = NULL;
+    force->create_dihedral("zero",0);
+    if (force->dihedral) force->dihedral->settings(1,coeffs);
+
+    saved_improper = force->improper;
+    force->improper = NULL;
+    force->create_improper("zero",0);
+    if (force->improper) force->improper->settings(1,coeffs);
+
+    saved_kspace = force->kspace;
+    force->kspace = NULL;
+  }
+
   // -----------------------------------------------------------------
 
   // perform 1-pass read if no molecular topology in file
@@ -778,6 +824,26 @@ void ReadData::command(int narg, char **arg)
       error->all(FLERR,
                  "Read_data shrink wrap did not assign all atoms correctly");
   }
+
+  // restore old styles, for nocoeff flag read
+  if (no_coeffs) {
+    if (force->pair) delete force->pair;
+    force->pair = saved_pair;
+
+    if (force->bond) delete force->bond;
+    force->bond = saved_bond;
+
+    if (force->angle) delete force->angle;
+    force->angle = saved_angle;
+
+    if (force->dihedral) delete force->dihedral;
+    force->dihedral = saved_dihedral;
+
+    if (force->improper) delete force->improper;
+    force->improper = saved_improper;
+
+    force->kspace = saved_kspace;
+  }
 }
 
 /* ----------------------------------------------------------------------
diff --git a/src/read_data.h b/src/read_data.h
index 9402bd18e4..c0a27ee15b 100644
--- a/src/read_data.h
+++ b/src/read_data.h
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ class ReadData : protected Pointers {
 
   // optional args
 
-  int addflag,offsetflag,shiftflag;
+  int addflag,offsetflag,shiftflag,no_coeffs;
   tagint addvalue;
   int toffset,boffset,aoffset,doffset,ioffset;
   double shift[3];