diff --git a/src/MOLECULE/atom_vec_template.cpp b/src/MOLECULE/atom_vec_template.cpp
index 8c646b27c0..dc450a30ff 100644
--- a/src/MOLECULE/atom_vec_template.cpp
+++ b/src/MOLECULE/atom_vec_template.cpp
@@ -29,7 +29,6 @@ AtomVecTemplate::AtomVecTemplate(LAMMPS *lmp) : AtomVec(lmp)
   atom->molecule_flag = 1;
   atom->molindex_flag = 1;
   atom->molatom_flag = 1;
-  atom->q_flag = 1;
 
   // strings with peratom variables to include in each AtomVec method
   // strings cannot contain fields in corresponding AtomVec default strings