diff --git a/src/reset_atoms_id.cpp b/src/reset_atoms_id.cpp
index 26685f1972..c0fce95326 100644
--- a/src/reset_atoms_id.cpp
+++ b/src/reset_atoms_id.cpp
@@ -43,7 +43,9 @@ static int compare_coords(const int, const int, void *);
 
 /* ---------------------------------------------------------------------- */
 
-ResetAtomsID::ResetAtomsID(LAMMPS *lmp) : Command(lmp) {}
+ResetAtomsID::ResetAtomsID(LAMMPS *lmp) : Command(lmp) {
+  binlo = binhi = -1;
+}
 
 /* ---------------------------------------------------------------------- */
 
@@ -480,6 +482,9 @@ int ResetAtomsID::sort_bins(int n, char *inbuf, int &flag, int *&proclist, char
   bigint binlo = rptr->binlo;
   bigint binhi = rptr->binhi;
 
+  if ((binlo < 0) || (binhi < 0))
+    error->one(FLERR, "Called sort_bins without previous setup of bins");
+
   // nbins = my subset of bins from binlo to binhi-1
   // initialize linked lists of my Rvous atoms in each bin