diff --git a/src/pair_table.cpp b/src/pair_table.cpp
index f15d5a2cea..7130a39b26 100644
--- a/src/pair_table.cpp
+++ b/src/pair_table.cpp
@@ -359,14 +359,13 @@ double PairTable::init_one(int i, int j)
 
 void PairTable::read_table(Table *tb, char *file, char *keyword)
 {
-  TableFileReader reader(lmp, file, "pair");
+  TableFileReader reader(lmp, file, "pair", unit_convert_flag);
 
   // transparently convert units for supported conversions
 
   int unit_convert = reader.get_unit_convert();
   double conversion_factor = utils::get_conversion_factor(utils::ENERGY,
                                                           unit_convert);
-
   char *line = reader.find_section_start(keyword);
 
   if (!line) {
diff --git a/src/potential_file_reader.cpp b/src/potential_file_reader.cpp
index 924af94eb3..e2b3909ace 100644
--- a/src/potential_file_reader.cpp
+++ b/src/potential_file_reader.cpp
@@ -145,7 +145,7 @@ std::string PotentialFileReader::next_string() {
   return "";
 }
 
-TextFileReader * PotentialFileReader::open_potential(const std::string& path) {
+TextFileReader *PotentialFileReader::open_potential(const std::string &path) {
   std::string filepath = utils::get_potential_file_path(path);
 
   if (!filepath.empty()) {
@@ -153,23 +153,24 @@ TextFileReader * PotentialFileReader::open_potential(const std::string& path) {
     std::string date       = utils::get_potential_date(filepath, filetype);
     std::string units      = utils::get_potential_units(filepath, filetype);
 
-    if (!date.empty()) {
-      utils::logmesg(lmp, fmt::format("Reading potential file {} with DATE: {}\n", filename, date));
-    }
+    if (!date.empty())
+      utils::logmesg(lmp, fmt::format("Reading {} file {} with DATE: {}\n",
+                                      filetype, filename, date));
 
     if (units.empty()) {
-      unit_convert == utils::NOCONVERT;
+      unit_convert = utils::NOCONVERT;
     } else {
       if (units == unit_style) {
         unit_convert = utils::NOCONVERT;
       } else {
-        if ((units == "metal") && (unit_style == "real") && (unit_convert | utils::METAL2REAL)) {
+        if ((units == "metal") && (unit_style == "real") && (unit_convert & utils::METAL2REAL)) {
           unit_convert = utils::METAL2REAL;
-        } else if ((units == "real") && (unit_style == "metal") && (unit_convert | utils::REAL2METAL)) {
+        } else if ((units == "real") && (unit_style == "metal") && (unit_convert & utils::REAL2METAL)) {
           unit_convert = utils::REAL2METAL;
         } else {
-          lmp->error->one(FLERR, fmt::format("Potential file {} requires {} units "
-                                             "but {} units are in use",filename, units, unit_style));
+          lmp->error->one(FLERR, fmt::format("{} file {} requires {} units "
+                                             "but {} units are in use", filetype,
+                                             filename, units, unit_style));
         }
       }
     }