diff --git a/src/reader_native.cpp b/src/reader_native.cpp
index ddacec9a47..275885b369 100644
--- a/src/reader_native.cpp
+++ b/src/reader_native.cpp
@@ -317,25 +317,11 @@ bigint ReaderNative::read_header(double box[3][3], int &boxinfo, int &triclinic,
     return 1;
   }
 
-  match_fields(nfield, xflag, yflag, zflag, fieldtype, fieldlabel,
-               scaleflag, wrapflag, fieldflag, labels);
+  // match each field with a column of per-atom data
+  // if fieldlabel set, match with explicit column
+  // else infer one or more column matches from fieldtype
+  // xyz flag set by scaleflag + wrapflag (if fieldlabel set) or column label
 
-  return natoms;
-}
-
-/* ----------------------------------------------------------------------
-  match each field with a column of per-atom data
-  if fieldlabel set, match with explicit column
-  else infer one or more column matches from fieldtype
-  xyz flag set by scaleflag + wrapflag (if fieldlabel set) or column label
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- */
-
-void ReaderNative::match_fields(int nfield,
-                                 int &xflag, int &yflag, int &zflag,
-                                 int *fieldtype, char **fieldlabel,
-                                 int scaleflag, int wrapflag, int &fieldflag,
-                                 std::map<std::string, int> labels)
-{
   memory->create(fieldindex,nfield,"read_dump:fieldindex");
 
   int s_index,u_index,su_index;
@@ -456,6 +442,7 @@ void ReaderNative::match_fields(int nfield,
   for (int i = 0; i < nfield; i++)
     if (fieldindex[i] < 0) fieldflag = -1;
 
+  return natoms;
 }
 
 /* ----------------------------------------------------------------------
diff --git a/src/reader_native.h b/src/reader_native.h
index 073a1b8297..2ca43039c2 100644
--- a/src/reader_native.h
+++ b/src/reader_native.h
@@ -53,9 +53,6 @@ class ReaderNative : public Reader {
   int size_one;                 // number of double for one atom
   int maxbuf;                   // maximum buffer size
 
-  void match_fields(int, int &, int &, int &, int *, char **, int, int, int &,
-                    std::map<std::string, int>);
-
   int find_label(const std::string &label, const std::map<std::string, int> &labels);
   void read_lines(int);