diff --git a/src/POEMS/fix_poems.cpp b/src/POEMS/fix_poems.cpp
index fe2168fcaa..effd06f477 100644
--- a/src/POEMS/fix_poems.cpp
+++ b/src/POEMS/fix_poems.cpp
@@ -76,6 +76,7 @@ FixPOEMS::FixPOEMS(LAMMPS *lmp, int narg, char **arg) :
   time_integrate = 1;
   rigid_flag = 1;
   virial_flag = 1;
+  thermo_virial = 1;
   dof_flag = 1;
 
   MPI_Comm_rank(world,&me);
@@ -683,12 +684,14 @@ void FixPOEMS::setup(int vflag)
 
   // guestimate virial as 2x the set_v contribution
 
-  if (vflag_global)
-    for (n = 0; n < 6; n++) virial[n] *= 2.0;
-  if (vflag_atom) {
-    for (i = 0; i < nlocal; i++)
-      for (n = 0; n < 6; n++)
-        vatom[i][n] *= 2.0;
+  if (evflag) {
+    if (vflag_global)
+      for (n = 0; n < 6; n++) virial[n] *= 2.0;
+    if (vflag_atom) {
+      for (i = 0; i < nlocal; i++)
+        for (n = 0; n < 6; n++)
+          vatom[i][n] *= 2.0;
+    }
   }
 
   // use post_force() to compute initial fcm & torque