diff --git a/src/RIGID/fix_rigid_small.cpp b/src/RIGID/fix_rigid_small.cpp
index 097a66ccec..f9d181ef96 100644
--- a/src/RIGID/fix_rigid_small.cpp
+++ b/src/RIGID/fix_rigid_small.cpp
@@ -1611,7 +1611,7 @@ void FixRigidSmall::create_bodies(tagint *bodyID)
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- */
 
 int FixRigidSmall::rendezvous_body(int n, char *inbuf,
-                                   int *&proclist, char *&outbuf,
+                                   int &rflag, int *&proclist, char *&outbuf,
                                    void *ptr)
 {
   int i,j,m;
@@ -1749,6 +1749,7 @@ int FixRigidSmall::rendezvous_body(int n, char *inbuf,
   memory->destroy(iclose);
   memory->destroy(rsqclose);
 
+  rflag = 2;
   return nout;
 }
 
diff --git a/src/RIGID/fix_rigid_small.h b/src/RIGID/fix_rigid_small.h
index a820efcdea..f6ad1b7206 100644
--- a/src/RIGID/fix_rigid_small.h
+++ b/src/RIGID/fix_rigid_small.h
@@ -209,7 +209,7 @@ class FixRigidSmall : public Fix {
 
   // callback function for rendezvous communication
 
-  static int rendezvous_body(int, char *, int *&, char *&, void *);
+  static int rendezvous_body(int, char *, int &, int *&, char *&, void *);
 
   // debug