diff --git a/src/kspace.cpp b/src/kspace.cpp
index c29d9a0795..ddb90c9e45 100644
--- a/src/kspace.cpp
+++ b/src/kspace.cpp
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ KSpace::KSpace(LAMMPS *lmp, int narg, char **arg) : Pointers(lmp)
   virial[0] = virial[1] = virial[2] = virial[3] = virial[4] = virial[5] = 0.0;
 
   triclinic_support = 1;
-  ewaldflag = pppmflag = msmflag = dispersionflag = tip4pflag = 0;
+  ewaldflag = pppmflag = msmflag = dispersionflag = tip4pflag = dipoleflag = 0;
   compute_flag = 1;
   group_group_enable = 0;
 
@@ -162,6 +162,8 @@ void KSpace::pair_check()
     error->all(FLERR,"KSpace style is incompatible with Pair style");
   if (tip4pflag && force->pair->tip4pflag == 0)
     error->all(FLERR,"KSpace style is incompatible with Pair style");
+  if (dipoleflag && force->pair->dipoleflag == 0)
+    error->all(FLERR,"KSpace style is incompatible with Pair style");
 }
 
 /* ----------------------------------------------------------------------
diff --git a/src/kspace.h b/src/kspace.h
index 63446b8c44..2a09d218dc 100644
--- a/src/kspace.h
+++ b/src/kspace.h
@@ -43,6 +43,7 @@ class KSpace : protected Pointers {
   int msmflag;                   // 1 if a MSM solver
   int dispersionflag;            // 1 if a LJ/dispersion solver
   int tip4pflag;                 // 1 if a TIP4P solver
+  int dipoleflag;                // 1 if a dipole solver
 
   double g_ewald,g_ewald_6;
   int nx_pppm,ny_pppm,nz_pppm;           // global FFT grid for Coulombics