diff --git a/src/fix_nve.cpp b/src/fix_nve.cpp
index baf415f5ce..ec1258b5f9 100644
--- a/src/fix_nve.cpp
+++ b/src/fix_nve.cpp
@@ -27,7 +27,8 @@ using namespace LAMMPS_NS;
 FixNVE::FixNVE(LAMMPS *lmp, int narg, char **arg) :
   Fix(lmp, narg, arg)
 {
-  if (narg < 3) error->all("Illegal fix nve command");
+  if (strcmp(style,"nve/sphere") != 0 && narg < 3)
+    error->all("Illegal fix nve command");
 
   time_integrate = 1;
 }