diff --git a/src/QEQ/fix_qeq.cpp b/src/QEQ/fix_qeq.cpp
index bc044ebae4..3c6b1530fa 100644
--- a/src/QEQ/fix_qeq.cpp
+++ b/src/QEQ/fix_qeq.cpp
@@ -282,7 +282,8 @@ void FixQEq::setup_pre_force(int vflag)
   if (force->newton_pair == 0)
     error->all(FLERR,"QEQ with 'newton pair off' not supported");
 
-  neighbor->build_one(list);
+  // should not be needed
+  // neighbor->build_one(list);
 
   deallocate_storage();
   allocate_storage();
diff --git a/src/USER-REAXC/fix_qeq_reax.cpp b/src/USER-REAXC/fix_qeq_reax.cpp
index 6a41bd2b5e..5fa0ef6d79 100644
--- a/src/USER-REAXC/fix_qeq_reax.cpp
+++ b/src/USER-REAXC/fix_qeq_reax.cpp
@@ -416,7 +416,8 @@ void FixQEqReax::init_taper()
 
 void FixQEqReax::setup_pre_force(int vflag)
 {
-  neighbor->build_one(list);
+  // should not be needed
+  // neighbor->build_one(list);
 
   deallocate_storage();
   allocate_storage();