diff --git a/src/domain.cpp b/src/domain.cpp
index d53f6e9a8e..e6ad691553 100644
--- a/src/domain.cpp
+++ b/src/domain.cpp
@@ -168,7 +168,7 @@ void Domain::set_initial_box(int expandflag)
   // error checks for orthogonal and triclinic domains
 
   if (boxlo[0] >= boxhi[0] || boxlo[1] >= boxhi[1] || boxlo[2] >= boxhi[2])
-    error->one(FLERR,"Box bounds are invalid");
+    error->one(FLERR,"Box bounds are invalid or missing");
 
   if (domain->dimension == 2 && (xz != 0.0 || yz != 0.0))
     error->all(FLERR,"Cannot skew triclinic box in z for 2d simulation");
diff --git a/src/read_data.cpp b/src/read_data.cpp
index 846a706c05..9977eec5c2 100644
--- a/src/read_data.cpp
+++ b/src/read_data.cpp
@@ -347,6 +347,8 @@ void ReadData::command(int narg, char **arg)
   nbonds = nangles = ndihedrals = nimpropers = 0;
   nbondtypes = nangletypes = ndihedraltypes = nimpropertypes = 0;
   triclinic = 0;
+  boxlo[0] = boxlo[1] = boxlo[2] = 0.0;
+  boxhi[0] = boxhi[1] = boxhi[2] = 0.0;
   keyword[0] = '\0';
 
   nlocal_previous = atom->nlocal;