diff --git a/src/MANYBODY/pair_comb3.cpp b/src/MANYBODY/pair_comb3.cpp
index 574b89baf5..980cbe0bc9 100644
--- a/src/MANYBODY/pair_comb3.cpp
+++ b/src/MANYBODY/pair_comb3.cpp
@@ -320,7 +320,7 @@ void PairComb3::read_lib()
   // open libraray file on proc 0
   
   if(comm->me == 0) {
-    FILE *fp =  fopen("lib.comb3","r");
+    FILE *fp =  open_potential("lib.comb3");
     if (fp == NULL) {
       char str[128];
       sprintf(str,"Cannot open COMB3 C library file \n");
diff --git a/src/USER-MISC/pair_list.cpp b/src/USER-MISC/pair_list.cpp
index 265532e56f..83b8c209ec 100644
--- a/src/USER-MISC/pair_list.cpp
+++ b/src/USER-MISC/pair_list.cpp
@@ -218,7 +218,7 @@ void PairList::settings(int narg, char **arg)
     if (strcmp(arg[2],"check") == 0) check_flag = 1;
   }
 
-  FILE *fp = fopen(arg[0],"r");
+  FILE *fp = open_potential(arg[0]);
   char line[1024];
   if (fp == NULL)
     error->all(FLERR,"Cannot open pair list file");