diff --git a/src/BPM/atom_vec_bpm_sphere.cpp b/src/BPM/atom_vec_bpm_sphere.cpp
index 5a79bb5b00..8e1b0d1aa2 100644
--- a/src/BPM/atom_vec_bpm_sphere.cpp
+++ b/src/BPM/atom_vec_bpm_sphere.cpp
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ void AtomVecBPMSphere::process_args(int narg, char **arg)
 
   radvary = 0;
   if (narg == 1) {
-    radvary = utils::numeric(FLERR, arg[0], true, lmp);
+    radvary = utils::inumeric(FLERR, arg[0], true, lmp);
     if (radvary < 0 || radvary > 1) error->all(FLERR, "Illegal atom_style bpm/sphere command");
   }