diff --git a/src/pair.cpp b/src/pair.cpp
index 05319e33f2..8b3178415c 100644
--- a/src/pair.cpp
+++ b/src/pair.cpp
@@ -692,6 +692,12 @@ void Pair::compute_dummy(int eflag, int vflag)
   else evflag = 0;
 }
 
+/* ---------------------------------------------------------------------- */
+void Pair::read_restart(FILE *)
+{
+  error->all(FLERR,"BUG: restartinfo=1 but no restart support in pair style");
+}
+
 /* -------------------------------------------------------------------
    register a callback to a compute, so it can compute and accumulate
    additional properties during the pair computation from within
diff --git a/src/pair.h b/src/pair.h
index 94de38ab57..098563c7fe 100644
--- a/src/pair.h
+++ b/src/pair.h
@@ -156,7 +156,7 @@ class Pair : protected Pointers {
   virtual void free_disp_tables();
 
   virtual void write_restart(FILE *) {}
-  virtual void read_restart(FILE *) {}
+  virtual void read_restart(FILE *);
   virtual void write_restart_settings(FILE *) {}
   virtual void read_restart_settings(FILE *) {}
   virtual void write_data(FILE *) {}
diff --git a/src/read_restart.cpp b/src/read_restart.cpp
index ec985511b4..23c063c144 100644
--- a/src/read_restart.cpp
+++ b/src/read_restart.cpp
@@ -948,13 +948,13 @@ void ReadRestart::force_fields()
       style = read_string();
       force->create_pair(style,1);
       delete [] style;
-      force->pair->read_restart(fp);
       if (comm->me ==0) {
-        if (screen) fprintf(screen,"  restored pair style %s from "
+        if (screen) fprintf(screen,"  restoring pair style %s from "
                             "restart\n", force->pair_style);
-        if (logfile) fprintf(logfile,"  restored pair style %s from "
+        if (logfile) fprintf(logfile,"  restoring pair style %s from "
                              "restart\n", force->pair_style);
       }
+      force->pair->read_restart(fp);
 
     } else if (flag == NO_PAIR) {
       style = read_string();
@@ -971,49 +971,49 @@ void ReadRestart::force_fields()
       style = read_string();
       force->create_bond(style,1);
       delete [] style;
-      force->bond->read_restart(fp);
       if (comm->me ==0) {
-        if (screen) fprintf(screen,"  restored bond style %s from "
+        if (screen) fprintf(screen,"  restoring bond style %s from "
                             "restart\n", force->bond_style);
-        if (logfile) fprintf(logfile,"  restored bond style %s from "
+        if (logfile) fprintf(logfile,"  restoring bond style %s from "
                              "restart\n", force->bond_style);
       }
+      force->bond->read_restart(fp);
 
     } else if (flag == ANGLE) {
       style = read_string();
       force->create_angle(style,1);
       delete [] style;
-      force->angle->read_restart(fp);
       if (comm->me ==0) {
-        if (screen) fprintf(screen,"  restored angle style %s from "
+        if (screen) fprintf(screen,"  restoring angle style %s from "
                             "restart\n", force->angle_style);
-        if (logfile) fprintf(logfile,"  restored angle style %s from "
+        if (logfile) fprintf(logfile,"  restoring angle style %s from "
                              "restart\n", force->angle_style);
       }
+      force->angle->read_restart(fp);
 
     } else if (flag == DIHEDRAL) {
       style = read_string();
       force->create_dihedral(style,1);
       delete [] style;
-      force->dihedral->read_restart(fp);
       if (comm->me ==0) {
-        if (screen) fprintf(screen,"  restored dihedral style %s from "
+        if (screen) fprintf(screen,"  restoring dihedral style %s from "
                             "restart\n", force->dihedral_style);
-        if (logfile) fprintf(logfile,"  restored dihedral style %s from "
+        if (logfile) fprintf(logfile,"  restoring dihedral style %s from "
                              "restart\n", force->dihedral_style);
       }
+      force->dihedral->read_restart(fp);
 
     } else if (flag == IMPROPER) {
       style = read_string();
       force->create_improper(style,1);
       delete [] style;
-      force->improper->read_restart(fp);
       if (comm->me ==0) {
-        if (screen) fprintf(screen,"  restored improper style %s from "
+        if (screen) fprintf(screen,"  restoring improper style %s from "
                             "restart\n", force->improper_style);
-        if (logfile) fprintf(logfile,"  restored improper style %s from "
+        if (logfile) fprintf(logfile,"  restoring improper style %s from "
                              "restart\n", force->improper_style);
       }
+      force->improper->read_restart(fp);
 
     } else error->all(FLERR,
                       "Invalid flag in force field section of restart file");