diff --git a/python/lammps/core.py b/python/lammps/core.py
index 9e6329fe3c..7fa68c959e 100644
--- a/python/lammps/core.py
+++ b/python/lammps/core.py
@@ -1045,7 +1045,7 @@ class lammps(object):
     """
 
     tag = self.c_tagint(id)
-    return self.lib.lammps_map_atom(self.lmp, pointer(tag))
+    return self.lib.lammps_map_atom(self.lmp, byref(tag))
 
   # -------------------------------------------------------------------------
   # extract per-atom info datatype