diff --git a/doc/write_data.txt b/doc/write_data.txt
index d914fe4b6c..b22a42c49c 100644
--- a/doc/write_data.txt
+++ b/doc/write_data.txt
@@ -14,7 +14,8 @@ write_data file keyword value ... :pre
 
 file = name of data file to write out :ulb,l
 zero or more keyword/value pairs may be appended :l
-keyword = {pair} :l
+keyword = {pair} or {nocoeff} :l
+  {nocoeff} = do not write out force field info
   {pair} value = {ii} or {ij}
     {ii} = write one line of pair coefficient info per atom type
     {ij} = write one line of pair coefficient info per IJ atom type pair :pre
@@ -77,6 +78,11 @@ data file is read.
 
 :line
 
+The {nocoeff} keyword requests that no force field parameters should
+be written to the data file. This can be very helpful, if one wants
+to make significant changes to the force field or if the parameters
+are read in separately anyway, e.g. from an include file.
+
 The {pair} keyword lets you specify in what format the pair
 coefficient information is written into the data file.  If the value
 is specified as {ii}, then one line per atom type is written, to
diff --git a/src/write_data.cpp b/src/write_data.cpp
index 03faf0249d..2bf1ad84f8 100644
--- a/src/write_data.cpp
+++ b/src/write_data.cpp
@@ -73,6 +73,7 @@ void WriteData::command(int narg, char **arg)
   // noinit is a hidden arg, only used by -r command-line switch
 
   pairflag = II;
+  coeffflag = 1;
   int noinit = 0;
 
   int iarg = 1;
@@ -86,6 +87,9 @@ void WriteData::command(int narg, char **arg)
     } else if (strcmp(arg[iarg],"noinit") == 0) {
       noinit = 1;
       iarg++;
+    } else if (strcmp(arg[iarg],"nocoeff") == 0) {
+      coeffflag = 0;
+      iarg++;
     } else error->all(FLERR,"Illegal write_data command");
   }
 
@@ -176,7 +180,7 @@ void WriteData::write(char *file)
   if (me == 0) {
     header();
     type_arrays();
-    force_fields();
+    if (coeffflag) force_fields();
   }
 
   // per atom info
diff --git a/src/write_data.h b/src/write_data.h
index 66f8d42bc2..8a4fdfac4c 100644
--- a/src/write_data.h
+++ b/src/write_data.h
@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@ class WriteData : protected Pointers {
  private:
   int me,nprocs;
   int pairflag;
+  int coeffflag;
   FILE *fp;
   bigint nbonds_local,nbonds;
   bigint nangles_local,nangles;