diff --git a/doc/pair_modify.txt b/doc/pair_modify.txt
index 473e017499..88e2151f94 100644
--- a/doc/pair_modify.txt
+++ b/doc/pair_modify.txt
@@ -26,7 +26,6 @@ keyword = {shift} or {mix} or {table} or {table/disp} or {tabinner} or {tabinner
     cutoff = inner cutoff at which to begin table (distance units)
   {tail} value = {yes} or {no}
   {compute} value = {yes} or {no} :pre
-  {manybody} value = {yes} or {no} :pre
 :ule
 
 [Examples:]
@@ -156,15 +155,6 @@ pairwise contribution.  You can also do this by simply not defining a
 required if you also want to define a
 "kspace_style"_kspace_style.html.  This keyword gives you that option.
 
-The {manybody} keyword allows to turn off a test that normally stops
-execution, if there are active exclusions when using a manybody potential.
-Manybody potentials do not need bonds, angles or dihedrals to be
-defined and usually will produce incorrect results if those are,
-even if no corresponding style is defined, due to pairs being excluded
-from the neighborlist. Under some circumstances, this may still be
-correct (e.g. when using a hybrid pair style), and thus this keyword
-offers the option to turn the manybody check off.
-
 [Restrictions:] none
 
 You cannot use {shift} yes with {tail} yes, since those are
diff --git a/src/MANYBODY/pair_adp.cpp b/src/MANYBODY/pair_adp.cpp
index c9b290a0a6..37f7ab921e 100644
--- a/src/MANYBODY/pair_adp.cpp
+++ b/src/MANYBODY/pair_adp.cpp
@@ -66,7 +66,6 @@ PairADP::PairADP(LAMMPS *lmp) : Pair(lmp)
 
   single_enable = 0;
   one_coeff = 1;
-  manybody_flag = 1;
 }
 
 /* ----------------------------------------------------------------------
diff --git a/src/MANYBODY/pair_airebo.cpp b/src/MANYBODY/pair_airebo.cpp
index fa01ac15ac..a71508b5c9 100644
--- a/src/MANYBODY/pair_airebo.cpp
+++ b/src/MANYBODY/pair_airebo.cpp
@@ -58,7 +58,6 @@ PairAIREBO::PairAIREBO(LAMMPS *lmp) : Pair(lmp)
   maxpage = 0;
   pages = NULL;
   nC = nH = NULL;
-  manybody_flag = 1;
 }
 
 /* ----------------------------------------------------------------------
diff --git a/src/MANYBODY/pair_bop.cpp b/src/MANYBODY/pair_bop.cpp
index b13f24c10d..4daf9cf856 100644
--- a/src/MANYBODY/pair_bop.cpp
+++ b/src/MANYBODY/pair_bop.cpp
@@ -64,8 +64,6 @@ PairBOP::PairBOP(LAMMPS *lmp) : Pair(lmp)
 {
   single_enable = 0;
   one_coeff = 1;
-  manybody_flag = 1;
-
   map = NULL;
   pi_a = NULL;
   pro_delta = NULL;
diff --git a/src/MANYBODY/pair_comb.cpp b/src/MANYBODY/pair_comb.cpp
index d5982caf0e..b8c5c1d4c5 100644
--- a/src/MANYBODY/pair_comb.cpp
+++ b/src/MANYBODY/pair_comb.cpp
@@ -50,7 +50,6 @@ PairComb::PairComb(LAMMPS *lmp) : Pair(lmp)
   single_enable = 0;
   restartinfo = 0;
   one_coeff = 1;
-  manybody_flag = 1;
 
   nmax = 0;
   NCo = NULL;
diff --git a/src/MANYBODY/pair_eam.cpp b/src/MANYBODY/pair_eam.cpp
index 35aaac922d..265eb80e4c 100644
--- a/src/MANYBODY/pair_eam.cpp
+++ b/src/MANYBODY/pair_eam.cpp
@@ -37,7 +37,6 @@ using namespace LAMMPS_NS;
 PairEAM::PairEAM(LAMMPS *lmp) : Pair(lmp)
 {
   restartinfo = 0;
-  manybody_flag = 1;
 
   nmax = 0;
   rho = NULL;
diff --git a/src/MANYBODY/pair_eam_alloy.cpp b/src/MANYBODY/pair_eam_alloy.cpp
index c8abf116a0..c6ab57bbeb 100644
--- a/src/MANYBODY/pair_eam_alloy.cpp
+++ b/src/MANYBODY/pair_eam_alloy.cpp
@@ -33,7 +33,6 @@ using namespace LAMMPS_NS;
 PairEAMAlloy::PairEAMAlloy(LAMMPS *lmp) : PairEAM(lmp)
 {
   one_coeff = 1;
-  manybody_flag = 1;
 }
 
 /* ----------------------------------------------------------------------
diff --git a/src/MANYBODY/pair_eam_fs.cpp b/src/MANYBODY/pair_eam_fs.cpp
index 0d6fc2110f..af62c75aa3 100644
--- a/src/MANYBODY/pair_eam_fs.cpp
+++ b/src/MANYBODY/pair_eam_fs.cpp
@@ -33,7 +33,6 @@ using namespace LAMMPS_NS;
 PairEAMFS::PairEAMFS(LAMMPS *lmp) : PairEAM(lmp)
 {
   one_coeff = 1;
-  manybody_flag = 1;
 }
 
 /* ----------------------------------------------------------------------
diff --git a/src/MANYBODY/pair_eim.cpp b/src/MANYBODY/pair_eim.cpp
index f271bb0030..b87b941f4c 100644
--- a/src/MANYBODY/pair_eim.cpp
+++ b/src/MANYBODY/pair_eim.cpp
@@ -39,7 +39,6 @@ PairEIM::PairEIM(LAMMPS *lmp) : Pair(lmp)
   single_enable = 0;
   restartinfo = 0;
   one_coeff = 1;
-  manybody_flag = 1;
 
   setfl = NULL;
   nmax = 0;
diff --git a/src/MANYBODY/pair_lcbop.cpp b/src/MANYBODY/pair_lcbop.cpp
index 5e7c6974c2..0e623c04b3 100644
--- a/src/MANYBODY/pair_lcbop.cpp
+++ b/src/MANYBODY/pair_lcbop.cpp
@@ -46,7 +46,6 @@ using namespace MathConst;
 PairLCBOP::PairLCBOP(LAMMPS *lmp) : Pair(lmp) {
   single_enable = 0;
   one_coeff = 1;
-  manybody_flag = 1;
   ghostneigh = 1;
 
   maxlocal = 0;
diff --git a/src/MANYBODY/pair_sw.cpp b/src/MANYBODY/pair_sw.cpp
index d3cc168389..6313f82471 100644
--- a/src/MANYBODY/pair_sw.cpp
+++ b/src/MANYBODY/pair_sw.cpp
@@ -43,7 +43,6 @@ PairSW::PairSW(LAMMPS *lmp) : Pair(lmp)
   single_enable = 0;
   restartinfo = 0;
   one_coeff = 1;
-  manybody_flag = 1;
 
   nelements = 0;
   elements = NULL;
diff --git a/src/MANYBODY/pair_tersoff.cpp b/src/MANYBODY/pair_tersoff.cpp
index fbbe857f09..32e90ed38d 100644
--- a/src/MANYBODY/pair_tersoff.cpp
+++ b/src/MANYBODY/pair_tersoff.cpp
@@ -44,7 +44,6 @@ PairTersoff::PairTersoff(LAMMPS *lmp) : Pair(lmp)
   single_enable = 0;
   restartinfo = 0;
   one_coeff = 1;
-  manybody_flag = 1;
 
   nelements = 0;
   elements = NULL;
diff --git a/src/MEAM/pair_meam.cpp b/src/MEAM/pair_meam.cpp
index bdfc9ea159..4a3b15898c 100644
--- a/src/MEAM/pair_meam.cpp
+++ b/src/MEAM/pair_meam.cpp
@@ -49,7 +49,6 @@ PairMEAM::PairMEAM(LAMMPS *lmp) : Pair(lmp)
   single_enable = 0;
   restartinfo = 0;
   one_coeff = 1;
-  manybody_flag = 1;
 
   nmax = 0;
   rho = rho0 = rho1 = rho2 = rho3 = frhop = NULL;
diff --git a/src/REAX/pair_reax.cpp b/src/REAX/pair_reax.cpp
index e8db8a2a3d..341aba65d7 100644
--- a/src/REAX/pair_reax.cpp
+++ b/src/REAX/pair_reax.cpp
@@ -48,7 +48,6 @@ PairREAX::PairREAX(LAMMPS *lmp) : Pair(lmp)
   single_enable = 0;
   restartinfo = 0;
   one_coeff = 1;
-  manybody_flag = 1;
   no_virial_fdotr_compute = 1;
 
   nextra = 14;
diff --git a/src/USER-MISC/pair_edip.cpp b/src/USER-MISC/pair_edip.cpp
index a9938f409a..cf33867624 100644
--- a/src/USER-MISC/pair_edip.cpp
+++ b/src/USER-MISC/pair_edip.cpp
@@ -55,7 +55,6 @@ PairEDIP::PairEDIP(LAMMPS *lmp) : Pair(lmp)
   single_enable = 0;
   restartinfo = 0;
   one_coeff = 1;
-  manybody_flag = 1;
 
   nelements = 0;
   elements = NULL;
diff --git a/src/USER-MISC/pair_meam_spline.cpp b/src/USER-MISC/pair_meam_spline.cpp
index c0260ab6f2..eed81986f9 100644
--- a/src/USER-MISC/pair_meam_spline.cpp
+++ b/src/USER-MISC/pair_meam_spline.cpp
@@ -49,7 +49,6 @@ PairMEAMSpline::PairMEAMSpline(LAMMPS *lmp) : Pair(lmp)
   single_enable = 0;
   restartinfo = 0;
   one_coeff = 1;
-  manybody_flag = 1;
 
   nelements = 0;
   elements = NULL;
diff --git a/src/USER-MISC/pair_meam_sw_spline.cpp b/src/USER-MISC/pair_meam_sw_spline.cpp
index fe13170e2d..79982017ac 100644
--- a/src/USER-MISC/pair_meam_sw_spline.cpp
+++ b/src/USER-MISC/pair_meam_sw_spline.cpp
@@ -47,7 +47,6 @@ PairMEAMSWSpline::PairMEAMSWSpline(LAMMPS *lmp) : Pair(lmp)
   single_enable = 0;
   restartinfo = 0;
   one_coeff = 1;
-  manybody_flag = 1;
 
   nelements = 0;
   elements = NULL;
diff --git a/src/USER-MISC/pair_tersoff_table.cpp b/src/USER-MISC/pair_tersoff_table.cpp
index a0dd0fcb04..36c08c9869 100644
--- a/src/USER-MISC/pair_tersoff_table.cpp
+++ b/src/USER-MISC/pair_tersoff_table.cpp
@@ -56,7 +56,6 @@ PairTersoffTable::PairTersoffTable(LAMMPS *lmp) : Pair(lmp)
 {
   single_enable = 0;
   one_coeff = 1;
-  manybody_flag = 1;
 
   nelements = 0;
   elements = NULL;
diff --git a/src/USER-REAXC/pair_reax_c.cpp b/src/USER-REAXC/pair_reax_c.cpp
index 4c1eea4f53..ed76417060 100644
--- a/src/USER-REAXC/pair_reax_c.cpp
+++ b/src/USER-REAXC/pair_reax_c.cpp
@@ -61,7 +61,6 @@ PairReaxC::PairReaxC(LAMMPS *lmp) : Pair(lmp)
   single_enable = 0;
   restartinfo = 0;
   one_coeff = 1;
-  manybody_flag = 1;
   ghostneigh = 1;
 
   system = (reax_system *)
diff --git a/src/pair.cpp b/src/pair.cpp
index 4841028f08..05237f7f3c 100644
--- a/src/pair.cpp
+++ b/src/pair.cpp
@@ -71,7 +71,6 @@ Pair::Pair(LAMMPS *lmp) : Pointers(lmp)
   // pair_modify settings
 
   compute_flag = 1;
-  manybody_flag = 0;
   offset_flag = 0;
   mix_flag = GEOMETRIC;
   tail_flag = 0;
@@ -156,12 +155,6 @@ void Pair::modify_params(int narg, char **arg)
       else if (strcmp(arg[iarg+1],"no") == 0) compute_flag = 0;
       else error->all(FLERR,"Illegal pair_modify command");
       iarg += 2;
-    } else if (strcmp(arg[iarg],"manybody") == 0) {
-      if (iarg+2 > narg) error->all(FLERR,"Illegal pair_modify command");
-      if (strcmp(arg[iarg+1],"yes") == 0) manybody_flag = 1;
-      else if (strcmp(arg[iarg+1],"no") == 0) manybody_flag = 0;
-      else error->all(FLERR,"Illegal pair_modify command");
-      iarg += 2;
     } else error->all(FLERR,"Illegal pair_modify command");
   }
 }
@@ -179,22 +172,6 @@ void Pair::init()
   if (tail_flag && domain->nonperiodic && comm->me == 0)
     error->warning(FLERR,"Using pair tail corrections with nonperiodic system");
 
-  // check if possible exclusions could invalidate the neighborlist.
-  if (manybody_flag && atom->molecular) {
-    int flag = 0;
-    if (atom->nbonds > 0 && force->special_lj[1] == 0.0 
-        && force->special_coul[1] == 0.0) flag = 1;
-
-    if (atom->nangles > 0 && force->special_lj[2] == 0.0
-        && force->special_coul[2] == 0.0) flag = 1;
-
-    if (atom->ndihedrals > 0 && force->special_lj[3] == 0.0 
-        && force->special_coul[3] == 0.0) flag = 1;
-
-    if (flag)
-      error->all(FLERR,"Using a manybody potential with exclusions");
-  }
-
   if (!allocated) error->all(FLERR,"All pair coeffs are not set");
 
   // I,I coeffs must be set
diff --git a/src/pair.h b/src/pair.h
index 12ec549d28..c9b4628d12 100644
--- a/src/pair.h
+++ b/src/pair.h
@@ -95,7 +95,6 @@ class Pair : protected Pointers {
   unsigned int datamask_ext;
 
   int compute_flag;              // 0 if skip compute()
-  int manybody_flag;             // 1 if abort for manybody style with bonds
 
   Pair(class LAMMPS *);
   virtual ~Pair();