diff --git a/src/angle.cpp b/src/angle.cpp
index 0756ce1fbd..3cef3fe09f 100644
--- a/src/angle.cpp
+++ b/src/angle.cpp
@@ -75,6 +75,16 @@ void Angle::init()
   init_style();
 }
 
+/* ----------------------------------------------------------------------
+   check that there are no arguments
+------------------------------------------------------------------------- */
+
+void Angle::settings(int narg, char **args)
+{
+  if (narg > 0)
+    error->all(FLERR, "Illegal angle_style {} argument: {}", force->angle_style, args[0]);
+}
+
 /* ----------------------------------------------------------------------
    setup for energy, virial computation
    see integrate::ev_set() for bitwise settings of eflag/vflag
diff --git a/src/angle.h b/src/angle.h
index f7d66a1202..79320a575f 100644
--- a/src/angle.h
+++ b/src/angle.h
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ class Angle : protected Pointers {
   ~Angle() override;
   virtual void init();
   virtual void compute(int, int) = 0;
-  virtual void settings(int, char **) {}
+  virtual void settings(int, char **);
   virtual void coeff(int, char **) = 0;
   virtual void init_style(){};
   virtual double equilibrium_angle(int) = 0;
diff --git a/src/bond.cpp b/src/bond.cpp
index 18cdaf8c6d..97030ca64f 100644
--- a/src/bond.cpp
+++ b/src/bond.cpp
@@ -86,6 +86,16 @@ void Bond::init()
   init_style();
 }
 
+/* ----------------------------------------------------------------------
+   check that there are no arguments
+------------------------------------------------------------------------- */
+
+void Bond::settings(int narg, char **args)
+{
+  if (narg > 0)
+    error->all(FLERR, "Illegal bond_style {} argument: {}", force->bond_style, args[0]);
+}
+
 /* ----------------------------------------------------------------------
    setup for energy, virial computation
    see integrate::ev_set() for bitwise settings of eflag/vflag
diff --git a/src/bond.h b/src/bond.h
index a2dc4c24ce..f0207f1113 100644
--- a/src/bond.h
+++ b/src/bond.h
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ class Bond : protected Pointers {
   virtual void init();
   virtual void init_style() {}
   virtual void compute(int, int) = 0;
-  virtual void settings(int, char **) {}
+  virtual void settings(int, char **);
   virtual void coeff(int, char **) = 0;
   virtual double equilibrium_distance(int) = 0;
   virtual void write_restart(FILE *) = 0;
diff --git a/src/dihedral.cpp b/src/dihedral.cpp
index b82e1ed84e..a59f83f37d 100644
--- a/src/dihedral.cpp
+++ b/src/dihedral.cpp
@@ -74,6 +74,16 @@ void Dihedral::init()
   init_style();
 }
 
+/* ----------------------------------------------------------------------
+   check that there are no arguments
+------------------------------------------------------------------------- */
+
+void Dihedral::settings(int narg, char **args)
+{
+  if (narg > 0)
+    error->all(FLERR, "Illegal dihedral_style {} argument: {}", force->dihedral_style, args[0]);
+}
+
 /* ----------------------------------------------------------------------
    setup for energy, virial computation
    see integrate::ev_set() for bitwise settings of eflag/vflag
diff --git a/src/dihedral.h b/src/dihedral.h
index 1d0a24338a..07e9fcba22 100644
--- a/src/dihedral.h
+++ b/src/dihedral.h
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ class Dihedral : protected Pointers {
   virtual void init();
   virtual void init_style() {}
   virtual void compute(int, int) = 0;
-  virtual void settings(int, char **) {}
+  virtual void settings(int, char **);
   virtual void coeff(int, char **) = 0;
   virtual void write_restart(FILE *) = 0;
   virtual void read_restart(FILE *) = 0;
diff --git a/src/improper.cpp b/src/improper.cpp
index bb3c4d12b5..68b83a69c3 100644
--- a/src/improper.cpp
+++ b/src/improper.cpp
@@ -73,6 +73,16 @@ void Improper::init()
   init_style();
 }
 
+/* ----------------------------------------------------------------------
+   check that there are no arguments
+------------------------------------------------------------------------- */
+
+void Improper::settings(int narg, char **args)
+{
+  if (narg > 0)
+    error->all(FLERR, "Illegal improper_style {} argument: {}", force->improper_style, args[0]);
+}
+
 /* ----------------------------------------------------------------------
    setup for energy, virial computation
    see integrate::ev_set() for bitwise settings of eflag/vflag
diff --git a/src/improper.h b/src/improper.h
index ae478ce14f..2013c7e548 100644
--- a/src/improper.h
+++ b/src/improper.h
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ class Improper : protected Pointers {
   virtual void init();
   virtual void init_style() {}
   virtual void compute(int, int) = 0;
-  virtual void settings(int, char **) {}
+  virtual void settings(int, char **);
   virtual void coeff(int, char **) = 0;
   virtual void write_restart(FILE *) = 0;
   virtual void read_restart(FILE *) = 0;