diff --git a/src/thermo.cpp b/src/thermo.cpp
index aeb9f17b40..1ce441c3c3 100644
--- a/src/thermo.cpp
+++ b/src/thermo.cpp
@@ -1488,7 +1488,7 @@ void Thermo::compute_spcpu()
 
 void Thermo::compute_atoms()
 {
-  bivalue = natoms;
+  bivalue = atom->natoms;
 }
 
 /* ---------------------------------------------------------------------- */