diff --git a/src/fix.cpp b/src/fix.cpp
index 448b450c56..2f76d423c9 100644
--- a/src/fix.cpp
+++ b/src/fix.cpp
@@ -66,6 +66,7 @@ Fix::Fix(LAMMPS *lmp, int narg, char **arg) : Pointers(lmp)
   comm_forward = comm_reverse = comm_border = 0;
   restart_reset = 0;
   nevery = 1;
+  global_freq = 1;
 
   maxvatom = 0;
   vatom = NULL;