diff --git a/src/special.cpp b/src/special.cpp
index f859f4ff53..0bb27b9540 100644
--- a/src/special.cpp
+++ b/src/special.cpp
@@ -710,6 +710,7 @@ void Special::combine()
                         atom->nmax,atom->maxspecial,"atom:special");
     atomKK->modified(Device,SPECIAL_MASK);
     atomKK->sync(Host,SPECIAL_MASK);
+    atom->avec->grow_pointers();
   } else {
     memory->destroy(atom->special);
     memory->create(atom->special,atom->nmax,atom->maxspecial,"atom:special");