diff --git a/src/USER-REAXC/reaxc_types.h b/src/USER-REAXC/reaxc_types.h
index f038f00bb0..36678ad2b0 100644
--- a/src/USER-REAXC/reaxc_types.h
+++ b/src/USER-REAXC/reaxc_types.h
@@ -862,14 +862,23 @@ struct cubic_spline_coef
   cubic_spline_coef() {}
 
   LAMMPS_INLINE
-  void operator = (const cubic_spline_coef& rhs) {
+  cubic_spline_coef(const cubic_spline_coef &_c) {
+    a = _c.a;
+    b = _c.b;
+    c = _c.c;
+    d = _c.d;
+  }
+
+  LAMMPS_INLINE
+  void operator=(const cubic_spline_coef &rhs) {
     a = rhs.a;
     b = rhs.b;
     c = rhs.c;
     d = rhs.d;
   }
+
   LAMMPS_INLINE
-  void operator = (const cubic_spline_coef& rhs) volatile {
+  void operator=(const cubic_spline_coef &rhs) volatile {
     a = rhs.a;
     b = rhs.b;
     c = rhs.c;