diff --git a/src/KOKKOS/neigh_list_kokkos.cpp b/src/KOKKOS/neigh_list_kokkos.cpp
index 1c78fe3a68..a5d832cab6 100644
--- a/src/KOKKOS/neigh_list_kokkos.cpp
+++ b/src/KOKKOS/neigh_list_kokkos.cpp
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ void NeighListKokkos<Device>::grow(int nmax)
 {
   // skip if this list is already long enough to store nmax atoms
 
-  if (nmax <= maxatoms) return;
+  if (nmax <= maxatoms && d_neighbors.extent(1) >= maxneighs) return;
   maxatoms = nmax;
 
   k_ilist =