diff --git a/src/EXTRA-PAIR/pair_e3b.cpp b/src/EXTRA-PAIR/pair_e3b.cpp
index e62249025a..a6c42c2198 100644
--- a/src/EXTRA-PAIR/pair_e3b.cpp
+++ b/src/EXTRA-PAIR/pair_e3b.cpp
@@ -387,7 +387,8 @@ void PairE3B::coeff(int narg, char **arg)
   //1=* 2=* 3/4=1st keyword/value
   if (narg < 4) error->all(FLERR, "There must be at least one keyword given to pair_coeff");
 
-  typeO = utils::expand_type_int(FLERR, typeO_str, Atom::ATOM, lmp);
+  if (typeO_str.size() > 0)
+    typeO = utils::expand_type_int(FLERR, typeO_str, Atom::ATOM, lmp);
 
   // clear setflag since coeff() called once with I,J = * *
   int n = atom->ntypes;