diff --git a/src/USER-REAXC/fix_qeq_reax.cpp b/src/USER-REAXC/fix_qeq_reax.cpp
index 794c23da3a..bb0fe3e6d7 100644
--- a/src/USER-REAXC/fix_qeq_reax.cpp
+++ b/src/USER-REAXC/fix_qeq_reax.cpp
@@ -367,7 +367,8 @@ void FixQEqReax::init_shielding()
   int ntypes;
 
   ntypes = atom->ntypes;
-  memory->create(shld,ntypes+1,ntypes+1,"qeq:shileding");
+  if (shld == NULL)
+    memory->create(shld,ntypes+1,ntypes+1,"qeq:shileding");
 
   for( i = 1; i <= ntypes; ++i )
     for( j = 1; j <= ntypes; ++j )
diff --git a/src/USER-REAXC/fix_reaxc_species.cpp b/src/USER-REAXC/fix_reaxc_species.cpp
index c063869f4d..5da1352e21 100644
--- a/src/USER-REAXC/fix_reaxc_species.cpp
+++ b/src/USER-REAXC/fix_reaxc_species.cpp
@@ -269,7 +269,8 @@ int FixReaxCSpecies::setmask()
 void FixReaxCSpecies::setup(int vflag)
 {
   ntotal = static_cast<int> (atom->natoms);
-  memory->create(Name,ntypes,"reax/c/species:Name");
+  if (Name == NULL)
+    memory->create(Name,ntypes,"reax/c/species:Name");
 
   post_integrate();
 }