diff --git a/src/neighbor.cpp b/src/neighbor.cpp
index 46b0a1e0c8..feadb5a533 100644
--- a/src/neighbor.cpp
+++ b/src/neighbor.cpp
@@ -1828,3 +1828,12 @@ bigint Neighbor::memory_usage()
 
   return bytes;
 }
+
+/* ----------------------------------------------------------------------
+   return the value of exclude - used to check compatibility with GPU
+------------------------------------------------------------------------- */
+
+int Neighbor::exclude_setting()
+{
+  return exclude;
+}
diff --git a/src/neighbor.h b/src/neighbor.h
index aa2fcbcba1..a2f8e6b8b3 100644
--- a/src/neighbor.h
+++ b/src/neighbor.h
@@ -75,8 +75,7 @@ class Neighbor : protected Pointers {
   void set(int, char **);           // set neighbor style and skin distance
   void modify_params(int, char**);  // modify parameters that control builds
   bigint memory_usage();
-
-  inline int exclude_setting() { return exclude; }
+  int exclude_setting();
   
  protected:
   int me,nprocs;