diff --git a/src/EXTRA-PAIR/pair_e3b.cpp b/src/EXTRA-PAIR/pair_e3b.cpp
index a6c42c2198..a6f0e218bb 100644
--- a/src/EXTRA-PAIR/pair_e3b.cpp
+++ b/src/EXTRA-PAIR/pair_e3b.cpp
@@ -388,7 +388,7 @@ void PairE3B::coeff(int narg, char **arg)
   if (narg < 4) error->all(FLERR, "There must be at least one keyword given to pair_coeff");
 
   if (typeO_str.size() > 0)
-    typeO = utils::expand_type_int(FLERR, typeO_str, Atom::ATOM, lmp);
+    typeO = utils::expand_type_int(FLERR, typeO_str, Atom::ATOM, lmp, 1);
 
   // clear setflag since coeff() called once with I,J = * *
   int n = atom->ntypes;
diff --git a/src/FEP/pair_lj_cut_tip4p_long_soft.cpp b/src/FEP/pair_lj_cut_tip4p_long_soft.cpp
index c9d3f6d72a..8309939227 100644
--- a/src/FEP/pair_lj_cut_tip4p_long_soft.cpp
+++ b/src/FEP/pair_lj_cut_tip4p_long_soft.cpp
@@ -441,10 +441,10 @@ void PairLJCutTIP4PLongSoft::coeff(int narg, char **arg)
   // and the types are already set and the strings are empty.
 
   if (typeO_str.size() > 0) {
-    typeO = utils::expand_type_int(FLERR, typeO_str, Atom::ATOM, lmp);
-    typeH = utils::expand_type_int(FLERR, typeH_str, Atom::ATOM, lmp);
-    typeB = utils::expand_type_int(FLERR, typeB_str, Atom::BOND, lmp);
-    typeA = utils::expand_type_int(FLERR, typeA_str, Atom::ANGLE, lmp);
+    typeO = utils::expand_type_int(FLERR, typeO_str, Atom::ATOM, lmp, 1);
+    typeH = utils::expand_type_int(FLERR, typeH_str, Atom::ATOM, lmp, 1);
+    typeB = utils::expand_type_int(FLERR, typeB_str, Atom::BOND, lmp, 1);
+    typeA = utils::expand_type_int(FLERR, typeA_str, Atom::ANGLE, lmp, 1);
   }
 
   PairLJCutCoulLongSoft::coeff(narg, arg);
diff --git a/src/FEP/pair_tip4p_long_soft.cpp b/src/FEP/pair_tip4p_long_soft.cpp
index 1ff4868928..35e2972898 100644
--- a/src/FEP/pair_tip4p_long_soft.cpp
+++ b/src/FEP/pair_tip4p_long_soft.cpp
@@ -398,10 +398,10 @@ void PairTIP4PLongSoft::coeff(int narg, char **arg)
   // and the types are already set and the strings are empty.
 
   if (typeO_str.size() > 0) {
-    typeO = utils::expand_type_int(FLERR, typeO_str, Atom::ATOM, lmp);
-    typeH = utils::expand_type_int(FLERR, typeH_str, Atom::ATOM, lmp);
-    typeB = utils::expand_type_int(FLERR, typeB_str, Atom::BOND, lmp);
-    typeA = utils::expand_type_int(FLERR, typeA_str, Atom::ANGLE, lmp);
+    typeO = utils::expand_type_int(FLERR, typeO_str, Atom::ATOM, lmp, 1);
+    typeH = utils::expand_type_int(FLERR, typeH_str, Atom::ATOM, lmp, 1);
+    typeB = utils::expand_type_int(FLERR, typeB_str, Atom::BOND, lmp, 1);
+    typeA = utils::expand_type_int(FLERR, typeA_str, Atom::ANGLE, lmp, 1);
   }
 
   PairCoulLongSoft::coeff(narg, arg);
diff --git a/src/KSPACE/pair_lj_cut_tip4p_long.cpp b/src/KSPACE/pair_lj_cut_tip4p_long.cpp
index 8a3d869595..f72e8c42f8 100644
--- a/src/KSPACE/pair_lj_cut_tip4p_long.cpp
+++ b/src/KSPACE/pair_lj_cut_tip4p_long.cpp
@@ -455,10 +455,10 @@ void PairLJCutTIP4PLong::coeff(int narg, char **arg)
   // and the types are already set and the strings are empty.
 
   if (typeO_str.size() > 0) {
-    typeO = utils::expand_type_int(FLERR, typeO_str, Atom::ATOM, lmp);
-    typeH = utils::expand_type_int(FLERR, typeH_str, Atom::ATOM, lmp);
-    typeB = utils::expand_type_int(FLERR, typeB_str, Atom::BOND, lmp);
-    typeA = utils::expand_type_int(FLERR, typeA_str, Atom::ANGLE, lmp);
+    typeO = utils::expand_type_int(FLERR, typeO_str, Atom::ATOM, lmp, 1);
+    typeH = utils::expand_type_int(FLERR, typeH_str, Atom::ATOM, lmp, 1);
+    typeB = utils::expand_type_int(FLERR, typeB_str, Atom::BOND, lmp, 1);
+    typeA = utils::expand_type_int(FLERR, typeA_str, Atom::ANGLE, lmp, 1);
   }
 
   PairLJCutCoulLong::coeff(narg, arg);
diff --git a/src/KSPACE/pair_lj_long_tip4p_long.cpp b/src/KSPACE/pair_lj_long_tip4p_long.cpp
index 9b460d9636..fe3671f21b 100644
--- a/src/KSPACE/pair_lj_long_tip4p_long.cpp
+++ b/src/KSPACE/pair_lj_long_tip4p_long.cpp
@@ -1472,10 +1472,10 @@ void PairLJLongTIP4PLong::coeff(int narg, char **arg)
   // and the types are already set and the strings are empty.
 
   if (typeO_str.size() > 0) {
-    typeO = utils::expand_type_int(FLERR, typeO_str, Atom::ATOM, lmp);
-    typeH = utils::expand_type_int(FLERR, typeH_str, Atom::ATOM, lmp);
-    typeB = utils::expand_type_int(FLERR, typeB_str, Atom::BOND, lmp);
-    typeA = utils::expand_type_int(FLERR, typeA_str, Atom::ANGLE, lmp);
+    typeO = utils::expand_type_int(FLERR, typeO_str, Atom::ATOM, lmp, 1);
+    typeH = utils::expand_type_int(FLERR, typeH_str, Atom::ATOM, lmp, 1);
+    typeB = utils::expand_type_int(FLERR, typeB_str, Atom::BOND, lmp, 1);
+    typeA = utils::expand_type_int(FLERR, typeA_str, Atom::ANGLE, lmp, 1);
   }
 
   PairLJLongCoulLong::coeff(narg, arg);
diff --git a/src/KSPACE/pair_tip4p_long.cpp b/src/KSPACE/pair_tip4p_long.cpp
index 7c290bbf8a..cd2b1f6af3 100644
--- a/src/KSPACE/pair_tip4p_long.cpp
+++ b/src/KSPACE/pair_tip4p_long.cpp
@@ -411,10 +411,10 @@ void PairTIP4PLong::coeff(int narg, char **arg)
   // and the types are already set and the strings are empty.
 
   if (typeO_str.size() > 0) {
-    typeO = utils::expand_type_int(FLERR, typeO_str, Atom::ATOM, lmp);
-    typeH = utils::expand_type_int(FLERR, typeH_str, Atom::ATOM, lmp);
-    typeB = utils::expand_type_int(FLERR, typeB_str, Atom::BOND, lmp);
-    typeA = utils::expand_type_int(FLERR, typeA_str, Atom::ANGLE, lmp);
+    typeO = utils::expand_type_int(FLERR, typeO_str, Atom::ATOM, lmp, 1);
+    typeH = utils::expand_type_int(FLERR, typeH_str, Atom::ATOM, lmp, 1);
+    typeB = utils::expand_type_int(FLERR, typeB_str, Atom::BOND, lmp, 1);
+    typeA = utils::expand_type_int(FLERR, typeA_str, Atom::ANGLE, lmp, 1);
   }
 
   PairCoulLong::coeff(narg, arg);
diff --git a/src/MOLECULE/pair_lj_cut_tip4p_cut.cpp b/src/MOLECULE/pair_lj_cut_tip4p_cut.cpp
index 7f968c1424..f4ddad5f70 100644
--- a/src/MOLECULE/pair_lj_cut_tip4p_cut.cpp
+++ b/src/MOLECULE/pair_lj_cut_tip4p_cut.cpp
@@ -465,10 +465,10 @@ void PairLJCutTIP4PCut::coeff(int narg, char **arg)
   // and the types are already set and the strings are empty.
 
   if (typeO_str.size() > 0) {
-    typeO = utils::expand_type_int(FLERR, typeO_str, Atom::ATOM, lmp);
-    typeH = utils::expand_type_int(FLERR, typeH_str, Atom::ATOM, lmp);
-    typeB = utils::expand_type_int(FLERR, typeB_str, Atom::BOND, lmp);
-    typeA = utils::expand_type_int(FLERR, typeA_str, Atom::ANGLE, lmp);
+    typeO = utils::expand_type_int(FLERR, typeO_str, Atom::ATOM, lmp, 1);
+    typeH = utils::expand_type_int(FLERR, typeH_str, Atom::ATOM, lmp, 1);
+    typeB = utils::expand_type_int(FLERR, typeB_str, Atom::BOND, lmp, 1);
+    typeA = utils::expand_type_int(FLERR, typeA_str, Atom::ANGLE, lmp, 1);
   }
 
   int ilo,ihi,jlo,jhi;
diff --git a/src/MOLECULE/pair_tip4p_cut.cpp b/src/MOLECULE/pair_tip4p_cut.cpp
index c7e21cd126..f8bced69af 100644
--- a/src/MOLECULE/pair_tip4p_cut.cpp
+++ b/src/MOLECULE/pair_tip4p_cut.cpp
@@ -400,10 +400,10 @@ void PairTIP4PCut::coeff(int narg, char **arg)
   // and the types are already set and the strings are empty.
 
   if (typeO_str.size() > 0) {
-    typeO = utils::expand_type_int(FLERR, typeO_str, Atom::ATOM, lmp);
-    typeH = utils::expand_type_int(FLERR, typeH_str, Atom::ATOM, lmp);
-    typeB = utils::expand_type_int(FLERR, typeB_str, Atom::BOND, lmp);
-    typeA = utils::expand_type_int(FLERR, typeA_str, Atom::ANGLE, lmp);
+    typeO = utils::expand_type_int(FLERR, typeO_str, Atom::ATOM, lmp, 1);
+    typeH = utils::expand_type_int(FLERR, typeH_str, Atom::ATOM, lmp, 1);
+    typeB = utils::expand_type_int(FLERR, typeB_str, Atom::BOND, lmp, 1);
+    typeA = utils::expand_type_int(FLERR, typeA_str, Atom::ANGLE, lmp, 1);
   }
 
   int ilo,ihi,jlo,jhi;
diff --git a/src/utils.cpp b/src/utils.cpp
index 27d89f1bf5..cbf2a23ae1 100644
--- a/src/utils.cpp
+++ b/src/utils.cpp
@@ -995,17 +995,42 @@ char *utils::expand_type(const char *file, int line, const std::string &str, int
 
 /* -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Expand type string to integer-valued numeric type from labelmap.
-   Not guaranteed to return a valid type.
-   For example, type <= 0 or type > Ntypes is checked in calling routine.
+   Not guaranteed to return a valid type if param verify = 0 (default)
+   In this case, type <= 0 or type > Ntypes should be checked in calling routine.
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- */
 
 int utils::expand_type_int(const char *file, int line, const std::string &str, int mode,
-                           LAMMPS *lmp)
+                           LAMMPS *lmp, int verify)
 {
   char *typestr = expand_type(file, line, str, mode, lmp);
-  int out = inumeric(file, line, typestr ? typestr : str, false, lmp);
+  int type = inumeric(file, line, typestr ? typestr : str, false, lmp);
+  if (verify) {
+    int errorflag = 0;
+    if (type <= 0) errorflag = 1;
+    int nmax;
+    switch (mode) {
+      case Atom::ATOM:
+        nmax = lmp->atom->ntypes;
+        break;
+      case Atom::BOND:
+        nmax = lmp->atom->nbondtypes;
+        break;
+      case Atom::ANGLE:
+        nmax = lmp->atom->nangletypes;
+        break;
+      case Atom::DIHEDRAL:
+        nmax = lmp->atom->ndihedraltypes;
+        break;
+      case Atom::IMPROPER:
+        nmax = lmp->atom->nimpropertypes;
+        break;
+    }
+    if (type > nmax) errorflag = 1;
+    if (errorflag) lmp->error->all(file, line,  "{} type {} is out of bounds ({}-{})",
+                                   labeltypes[mode], type, 1, nmax);
+  }
   delete[] typestr;
-  return out;
+  return type;
 }
 
 /* ----------------------------------------------------------------------
diff --git a/src/utils.h b/src/utils.h
index 3b85824a68..b7ceca4eb0 100644
--- a/src/utils.h
+++ b/src/utils.h
@@ -409,7 +409,7 @@ This functions adds the following case to :cpp:func:`utils::bounds() <LAMMPS_NS:
    *
    *  This function has the same arguments as expand_type() but returns an integer value */
 
-  int expand_type_int(const char *file, int line, const std::string &str, int mode, LAMMPS *lmp);
+  int expand_type_int(const char *file, int line, const std::string &str, int mode, LAMMPS *lmp, int verify = 0);
 
   /*! Check grid reference for valid Compute or Fix which produces per-grid data
    *
@@ -425,6 +425,7 @@ This functions adds the following case to :cpp:func:`utils::bounds() <LAMMPS_NS:
    * \param nevery  frequency at which caller will access fix for per-grid info,
    *                ignored when reference is to a compute
    * \param lmp     pointer to top-level LAMMPS class instance
+   * \param verify  check bounds for interaction type
    * \return id     ID of Compute or Fix
    * \return igrid  which grid is referenced (0 to N-1)
    * \return idata  which data on grid is referenced (0 to N-1)