diff --git a/src/read_data.cpp b/src/read_data.cpp
index 9d9d7139a5..31289cdd82 100644
--- a/src/read_data.cpp
+++ b/src/read_data.cpp
@@ -551,6 +551,8 @@ void ReadData::command(int narg, char **arg)
     // only done if firstpass and not first data file
 
     if (firstpass && addflag != NONE) {
+      double oldboxlo[3] = { domain->boxlo[0],  domain->boxlo[1] , domain->boxlo[2]};
+      double oldboxhi[3] = { domain->boxhi[0],  domain->boxhi[1] , domain->boxhi[2]};
       domain->boxlo[0] = MIN(domain->boxlo[0], boxlo[0] + shift[0]);
       domain->boxhi[0] = MAX(domain->boxhi[0], boxhi[0] + shift[0]);
       domain->boxlo[1] = MIN(domain->boxlo[1], boxlo[1] + shift[1]);
@@ -558,6 +560,25 @@ void ReadData::command(int narg, char **arg)
       domain->boxlo[2] = MIN(domain->boxlo[2], boxlo[2] + shift[2]);
       domain->boxhi[2] = MAX(domain->boxhi[2], boxhi[2] + shift[2]);
 
+      // check of box has changed. If yes, warn about non-zero image flags
+      if ((oldboxlo[0] != domain->boxlo[0]) || (oldboxlo[1] != domain->boxlo[1]) ||
+          (oldboxlo[2] != domain->boxlo[2]) || (oldboxhi[0] != domain->boxhi[0]) ||
+          (oldboxhi[1] != domain->boxhi[1]) || (oldboxhi[2] != domain->boxhi[2])) {
+        int iflag = 1;
+        for (int i=0; i < atom->nlocal; ++i) {
+          int xbox = (atom->image[i] & IMGMASK) - IMGMAX;
+          int ybox = (atom->image[i] >> IMGBITS & IMGMASK) - IMGMAX;
+          int zbox = (atom->image[i] >> IMG2BITS) - IMGMAX;
+          if (xbox != 0) iflag = 1;
+          if (ybox != 0) iflag = 1;
+          if (zbox != 0) iflag = 1;
+        }
+        int flag_all;
+        MPI_Allreduce(&iflag,&flag_all, 1, MPI_INT, MPI_SUM, world);
+        if ((flag_all > 0) && (comm->me == 0))
+          error->warning(FLERR,"Non-zero image flags with growing box leads to bad coordinates");
+      }
+
       // NOTE: not sure what to do about tilt value in subsequent data files
       //if (triclinic) {
       //  domain->xy = xy; domain->xz = xz; domain->yz = yz;