diff --git a/src/compute_variable.cpp b/src/compute_variable.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..0acfd27e4f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/compute_variable.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,67 @@
+/* ----------------------------------------------------------------------
+   LAMMPS - Large-scale Atomic/Molecular Massively Parallel Simulator
+   http://lammps.sandia.gov, Sandia National Laboratories
+   Steve Plimpton, sjplimp@sandia.gov
+
+   Copyright (2003) Sandia Corporation.  Under the terms of Contract
+   DE-AC04-94AL85000 with Sandia Corporation, the U.S. Government retains
+   certain rights in this software.  This software is distributed under 
+   the GNU General Public License.
+
+   See the README file in the top-level LAMMPS directory.
+------------------------------------------------------------------------- */
+
+#include "mpi.h"
+#include "string.h"
+#include "stdlib.h"
+#include "compute_variable.h"
+#include "input.h"
+#include "variable.h"
+#include "error.h"
+
+using namespace LAMMPS_NS;
+
+enum{INDEX,LOOP,EQUAL,WORLD,UNIVERSE,ULOOP,ATOM};  // also in variable.cpp
+
+/* ---------------------------------------------------------------------- */
+
+ComputeVariable::ComputeVariable(LAMMPS *lmp, int narg, char **arg) : 
+  Compute(lmp, narg, arg)
+{
+  if (narg != 4) error->all("Illegal compute variable command");
+
+  // store variable name
+
+  int n = strlen(arg[3]) + 1;
+  varname = new char[n];
+  strcpy(varname,arg[3]);
+
+  scalar_flag = 1;
+  extensive = 0;
+}
+
+/* ---------------------------------------------------------------------- */
+
+ComputeVariable::~ComputeVariable()
+{
+  delete [] varname;
+}
+
+/* ---------------------------------------------------------------------- */
+
+void ComputeVariable::init()
+{
+  // check if variable exists
+
+  int ivariable = input->variable->find(varname);
+  if (ivariable < 0)
+    error->all("Could not find compute variable name");
+}
+
+/* ---------------------------------------------------------------------- */
+
+double ComputeVariable::compute_scalar()
+{
+  scalar = atof(input->variable->retrieve(varname));
+  return scalar;
+}
diff --git a/src/compute_variable.h b/src/compute_variable.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..1f48d3b5de
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/compute_variable.h
@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+/* ----------------------------------------------------------------------
+   LAMMPS - Large-scale Atomic/Molecular Massively Parallel Simulator
+   http://lammps.sandia.gov, Sandia National Laboratories
+   Steve Plimpton, sjplimp@sandia.gov
+
+   Copyright (2003) Sandia Corporation.  Under the terms of Contract
+   DE-AC04-94AL85000 with Sandia Corporation, the U.S. Government retains
+   certain rights in this software.  This software is distributed under 
+   the GNU General Public License.
+
+   See the README file in the top-level LAMMPS directory.
+------------------------------------------------------------------------- */
+
+#ifndef COMPUTE_VARIABLE_H
+#define COMPUTE_VARIABLE_H
+
+#include "compute.h"
+
+namespace LAMMPS_NS {
+
+class ComputeVariable : public Compute {
+ public:
+  ComputeVariable(class LAMMPS *, int, char **);
+  ~ComputeVariable();
+  void init();
+  double compute_scalar();
+
+ private:
+  char *varname;
+};
+
+}
+
+#endif
diff --git a/src/compute_variable_atom.cpp b/src/compute_variable_atom.cpp
index 2db88251f4..46457b6b0c 100644
--- a/src/compute_variable_atom.cpp
+++ b/src/compute_variable_atom.cpp
@@ -21,6 +21,8 @@
 
 using namespace LAMMPS_NS;
 
+enum{INDEX,LOOP,EQUAL,WORLD,UNIVERSE,ULOOP,ATOM};  // also in variable.cpp
+
 /* ---------------------------------------------------------------------- */
 
 ComputeVariableAtom::ComputeVariableAtom(LAMMPS *lmp, int narg, char **arg) :
@@ -53,13 +55,11 @@ ComputeVariableAtom::~ComputeVariableAtom()
 
 void ComputeVariableAtom::init()
 {
-  // set ivariable used by this compute
+  // set ivariable used by this compute and check if it exists
 
   ivariable = input->variable->find(varname);
   if (ivariable < 0)
     error->all("Could not find compute variable name");
-
-  // test if variable of correct ATOM type
 }
 
 /* ---------------------------------------------------------------------- */
diff --git a/src/style.h b/src/style.h
index 6c0c637101..f2e17b0b7f 100644
--- a/src/style.h
+++ b/src/style.h
@@ -84,6 +84,7 @@ CommandStyle(write_restart,WriteRestart)
 #include "compute_temp_partial.h"
 #include "compute_temp_ramp.h"
 #include "compute_temp_region.h"
+#include "compute_variable.h"
 #include "compute_variable_atom.h"
 #endif
 
@@ -100,6 +101,7 @@ ComputeStyle(temp,ComputeTemp)
 ComputeStyle(temp/partial,ComputeTempPartial)
 ComputeStyle(temp/ramp,ComputeTempRamp)
 ComputeStyle(temp/region,ComputeTempRegion)
+ComputeStyle(variable,ComputeVariable)
 ComputeStyle(variable/atom,ComputeVariableAtom)
 #endif
 
@@ -301,6 +303,7 @@ RegionStyle(union,RegUnion)
 
 // style files for optional packages
 
+//#include "style_asphere.h"
 #include "style_class2.h"
 #include "style_dpd.h"
 #include "style_granular.h"