diff --git a/src/read_data.cpp b/src/read_data.cpp
index c33c65f676..574117e93e 100644
--- a/src/read_data.cpp
+++ b/src/read_data.cpp
@@ -1321,7 +1321,7 @@ void ReadData::bonds(int firstpass)
   int *count = nullptr;
   if (firstpass) {
     memory->create(count,nlocal,"read_data:count");
-    memset(count,0,nlocal*sizeof(int));
+    if (count) memset(count,0,nlocal*sizeof(int));
   }
 
   // read and process bonds
@@ -1395,7 +1395,7 @@ void ReadData::angles(int firstpass)
   int *count = nullptr;
   if (firstpass) {
     memory->create(count,nlocal,"read_data:count");
-    memset(count,0,nlocal*sizeof(int));
+    if (count) memset(count,0,nlocal*sizeof(int));
   }
 
   // read and process angles
@@ -1469,7 +1469,7 @@ void ReadData::dihedrals(int firstpass)
   int *count = nullptr;
   if (firstpass) {
     memory->create(count,nlocal,"read_data:count");
-    memset(count,0,nlocal*sizeof(int));
+    if (count) memset(count,0,nlocal*sizeof(int));
   }
 
   // read and process dihedrals
@@ -1543,7 +1543,7 @@ void ReadData::impropers(int firstpass)
   int *count = nullptr;
   if (firstpass) {
     memory->create(count,nlocal,"read_data:count");
-    memset(count,0,nlocal*sizeof(int));
+    if (count) memset(count,0,nlocal*sizeof(int));
   }
 
   // read and process impropers