diff --git a/src/write_data.cpp b/src/write_data.cpp
index c92d8fb8de..d6da2b8dec 100644
--- a/src/write_data.cpp
+++ b/src/write_data.cpp
@@ -390,8 +390,8 @@ void WriteData::bonds()
   MPI_Allreduce(&sendrow,&maxrow,1,MPI_INT,MPI_MAX,world);
 
   int **buf;
-  if (me == 0) memory->create(buf,maxrow,ncol,"write_data:buf");
-  else memory->create(buf,sendrow,ncol,"write_data:buf");
+  if (me == 0) memory->create(buf,MAX(1,maxrow),ncol,"write_data:buf");
+  else memory->create(buf,MAX(1,sendrow),ncol,"write_data:buf");
 
   // pack my bond data into buf
 
@@ -443,8 +443,8 @@ void WriteData::angles()
   MPI_Allreduce(&sendrow,&maxrow,1,MPI_INT,MPI_MAX,world);
 
   int **buf;
-  if (me == 0) memory->create(buf,maxrow,ncol,"write_data:buf");
-  else memory->create(buf,sendrow,ncol,"write_data:buf");
+  if (me == 0) memory->create(buf,MAX(1,maxrow),ncol,"write_data:buf");
+  else memory->create(buf,MAX(1,sendrow),ncol,"write_data:buf");
 
   // pack my angle data into buf
 
@@ -514,8 +514,8 @@ void WriteData::dihedrals()
   MPI_Allreduce(&sendrow,&maxrow,1,MPI_INT,MPI_MAX,world);
 
   int **buf;
-  if (me == 0) memory->create(buf,maxrow,ncol,"write_data:buf");
-  else memory->create(buf,sendrow,ncol,"write_data:buf");
+  if (me == 0) memory->create(buf,MAX(1,maxrow),ncol,"write_data:buf");
+  else memory->create(buf,MAX(1,sendrow),ncol,"write_data:buf");
 
   // pack my dihedral data into buf
 
@@ -585,8 +585,8 @@ void WriteData::impropers()
   MPI_Allreduce(&sendrow,&maxrow,1,MPI_INT,MPI_MAX,world);
 
   int **buf;
-  if (me == 0) memory->create(buf,maxrow,ncol,"write_data:buf");
-  else memory->create(buf,sendrow,ncol,"write_data:buf");
+  if (me == 0) memory->create(buf,MAX(1,maxrow),ncol,"write_data:buf");
+  else memory->create(buf,MAX(1,sendrow),ncol,"write_data:buf");
 
   // pack my improper data into buf