diff --git a/src/MANYBODY/pair_comb3.cpp b/src/MANYBODY/pair_comb3.cpp
index f4fe02c1b9..56f376ba28 100644
--- a/src/MANYBODY/pair_comb3.cpp
+++ b/src/MANYBODY/pair_comb3.cpp
@@ -604,7 +604,7 @@ void PairComb3::read_file(char *file)
 
   FILE *fp;
   if (comm->me == 0) {
-    fp = fopen(file,"r");
+    fp = force->open_potential(file);
     if (fp == NULL) {
       char str[128];
       sprintf(str,"Cannot open COMB3 potential file %s",file);