diff --git a/src/REAXFF/fix_reaxff_species.cpp b/src/REAXFF/fix_reaxff_species.cpp
index f832b52c52..67beb32740 100644
--- a/src/REAXFF/fix_reaxff_species.cpp
+++ b/src/REAXFF/fix_reaxff_species.cpp
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ FixReaxFFSpecies::FixReaxFFSpecies(LAMMPS *lmp, int narg, char **arg) :
   peratom_freq = 1;
 
   compressed = 0;
-  nvalid = -1;
+  nvalid = update->ntimestep;
 
   ntypes = atom->ntypes;
   eletype.resize(ntypes);