diff --git a/doc/src/pair_list.rst b/doc/src/pair_list.rst
index 322da79369..76b31623ad 100644
--- a/doc/src/pair_list.rst
+++ b/doc/src/pair_list.rst
@@ -120,7 +120,7 @@ and the coefficients:
 * :math:`b_2` (distance units)
 * :math:`r_c` (distance units)
 
-Note that the cutoff :math:`r_c` should always be specified to ensure zero energy and smooth force at cutoff.
+Note that the global cutoff specified by *pair_style list* command is ignored, unless :math:`r_c` is not specified. In this case, :math:`r_c` equals the sqare root of the globle cutoff.
 
 ----------
 
diff --git a/src/MISC/pair_list.cpp b/src/MISC/pair_list.cpp
index 1eff74564d..ad3ef44717 100644
--- a/src/MISC/pair_list.cpp
+++ b/src/MISC/pair_list.cpp
@@ -276,7 +276,6 @@ void PairList::settings(int narg, char **arg)
           oneparam.param.quartic.k = values.next_double();
           oneparam.param.quartic.b1 = values.next_double();
           oneparam.param.quartic.b2 = values.next_double();
-          oneparam.param.quartic.rc = values.next_double();
           ++nquartic;
           break;
 
@@ -365,8 +364,6 @@ void PairList::init_style()
       } else if (par.style == QUARTIC) {
         // the offset is always 0 at rc
         par.offset = 0.0;
-	// correct cutsq
-	par.cutsq = mypow(par.param.quartic.rc, 2);
       }
     }
   }
diff --git a/src/MISC/pair_list.h b/src/MISC/pair_list.h
index 2d00788811..dab8ba3fc9 100644
--- a/src/MISC/pair_list.h
+++ b/src/MISC/pair_list.h
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ class PairList : public Pair {
     double epsilon, sigma;
   };
   struct quartic_p {
-    double k, b1, b2, rc;
+    double k, b1, b2;
   };