diff --git a/src/lammps.cpp b/src/lammps.cpp
index 890e3bcc27..ded9d93167 100644
--- a/src/lammps.cpp
+++ b/src/lammps.cpp
@@ -854,9 +854,6 @@ void LAMMPS::destroy()
   delete neighbor;
   neighbor = NULL;
 
-  delete comm;
-  comm = NULL;
-
   delete force;
   force = NULL;
 
@@ -870,6 +867,10 @@ void LAMMPS::destroy()
                           //   since they delete fixes
   modify = NULL;
 
+  delete comm;            // comm must come after modify
+                          //   since fix destructors may access comm
+  comm = NULL;
+
   delete domain;          // domain must come after modify
                           //   since fix destructors access domain
   domain = NULL;