diff --git a/src/force.cpp b/src/force.cpp
index b31b8eda4e..25efc6e0cb 100644
--- a/src/force.cpp
+++ b/src/force.cpp
@@ -130,6 +130,13 @@ void Force::init()
   if (improper) improper->init();
 }
 
+/* ---------------------------------------------------------------------- */
+
+void Force::setup()
+{
+  if (pair) pair->setup();
+}
+
 /* ----------------------------------------------------------------------
    create a pair style, called from input script or restart file
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- */
diff --git a/src/force.h b/src/force.h
index 7ff668f81a..0726d9c9a2 100644
--- a/src/force.h
+++ b/src/force.h
@@ -77,6 +77,7 @@ class Force : protected Pointers {
   Force(class LAMMPS *);
   ~Force();
   void init();
+  void setup();
 
   void create_pair(const char *, int);
   class Pair *new_pair(const char *, int, int &);