diff --git a/src/command.h b/src/command.h
index 222ed5e34f..0122727463 100644
--- a/src/command.h
+++ b/src/command.h
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ namespace LAMMPS_NS {
 
 class Command : protected Pointers {
  public:
-  Command(class LAMMPS *lmp) : Pointers(lmp) {};
+  Command(class LAMMPS *lmp) : Pointers(lmp), copymode(0) {};
   virtual void command(int, char **) = 0;
 
  protected: