diff --git a/src/PYTHON/python_impl.cpp b/src/PYTHON/python_impl.cpp
index 2da5f68895..29a2ea9dba 100644
--- a/src/PYTHON/python_impl.cpp
+++ b/src/PYTHON/python_impl.cpp
@@ -40,8 +40,6 @@ using namespace LAMMPS_NS;
 
 enum{NONE,INT,DOUBLE,STRING,PTR};
 
-#define VALUELENGTH 64               // also in variable.cpp
-
 
 /* ---------------------------------------------------------------------- */
 
@@ -369,7 +367,7 @@ void PythonImpl::invoke_function(int ifunc, char *result)
       const char *pystr = PY_STRING_AS_STRING(pValue);
       if (pfuncs[ifunc].longstr)
         strncpy(pfuncs[ifunc].longstr,pystr,pfuncs[ifunc].length_longstr);
-      else strncpy(result,pystr,VALUELENGTH-1);
+      else strncpy(result,pystr,Variable::VALUELENGTH-1);
     }
   }
   Py_CLEAR(pValue);
diff --git a/src/variable.cpp b/src/variable.cpp
index ba34ea2a78..a59a24381f 100644
--- a/src/variable.cpp
+++ b/src/variable.cpp
@@ -49,7 +49,6 @@ using namespace MathConst;
 #define MAXLEVEL 4
 #define MAXLINE 256
 #define CHUNK 1024
-#define VALUELENGTH 64               // also in python.cpp
 #define MAXFUNCARG 6
 
 #define MYROUND(a) (( a-floor(a) ) >= .5) ? ceil(a) : floor(a)
diff --git a/src/variable.h b/src/variable.h
index 845145d336..dbad793b57 100644
--- a/src/variable.h
+++ b/src/variable.h
@@ -72,6 +72,7 @@ class Variable : protected Pointers {
     PYTHON,
     INTERNAL
   };
+  static constexpr int VALUELENGTH = 64;
 
  private:
   int me;