diff --git a/src/KOKKOS/neighbor_kokkos.cpp b/src/KOKKOS/neighbor_kokkos.cpp
index 1bf3f2ef39..2a85255e12 100644
--- a/src/KOKKOS/neighbor_kokkos.cpp
+++ b/src/KOKKOS/neighbor_kokkos.cpp
@@ -306,7 +306,7 @@ void NeighborKokkos::build_kokkos(int topoflag)
   atomKK->sync(Host,ALL_MASK);
   for (i = 0; i < npair_perpetual; i++) {
     m = plist[i];
-    lists[m]->grow(nlocal,nall);
+    if (!lists[m]->copy) lists[m]->grow(nlocal,nall);
     neigh_pair[m]->build_setup();
     neigh_pair[m]->build(lists[m]);
   }