diff --git a/src/my_page.cpp b/src/my_page.cpp
index d297d16f48..ce5dbca86a 100644
--- a/src/my_page.cpp
+++ b/src/my_page.cpp
@@ -89,12 +89,9 @@ MyPage<T>::MyPage() : ndatum(0), nchunk(0), pages(nullptr), page(nullptr),
                       npage(0), ipage(-1), index(-1), maxchunk(-1),
                       pagesize(-1), pagedelta(1), errorflag(0) {};
 
-/** Free all allocated pages of this class instance */
-
 template <class T>
 MyPage<T>::~MyPage() {
-  for (int i = 0; i < npage; i++) free(pages[i]);
-  free(pages);
+  deallocate();
 }
 
 /** (Re-)initialize the set of pages and allocation parameters.
@@ -117,44 +114,18 @@ int MyPage<T>::init(int user_maxchunk, int user_pagesize,
     if (maxchunk <= 0 || pagesize <= 0 || pagedelta <= 0) return 1;
     if (maxchunk > pagesize) return 1;
 
-    // free any previously allocated pages
+    // free storage if re-initialized
 
-    for (int i = 0; i < npage; i++) free(pages[i]);
-    free(pages);
+    deallocate();
 
     // initial page allocation
 
-    ndatum = nchunk = 0;
-    pages = NULL;
-    npage = 0;
     allocate();
     if (errorflag) return 2;
-    ipage = index = 0;
-    page = pages[ipage];
+    reset();
     return 0;
   }
 
-/** Pointer to location that can store one item.
- *
- * This will allocate more pages as needed.
- *
- * \return  memory location or null pointer, if memory allocation failed */
-
-template <class T>
-T *MyPage<T>::get() {
-  ndatum++;
-  nchunk++;
-  if (index < pagesize) return &page[index++];
-  ipage++;
-  if (ipage == npage) {
-    allocate();
-    if (errorflag) return NULL;
-  }
-  page = pages[ipage];
-  index = 0;
-  return &page[index++];
-}
-
 /** Pointer to location that can store N items.
  *
  * This will allocate more pages as needed.
@@ -172,11 +143,15 @@ T *MyPage<T>::get(int n) {
   }
   ndatum += n;
   nchunk++;
+
+  // return pointer from current page
   if (index+n <= pagesize) {
     int start = index;
     index += n;
     return &page[start];
   }
+
+  // allocate new page
   ipage++;
   if (ipage == npage) {
     allocate();
@@ -231,7 +206,7 @@ template <class T>
 void MyPage<T>::reset() {
   ndatum = nchunk = 0;
   index = ipage = 0;
-  page = pages[ipage];
+  page = (pages != nullptr) ? pages[ipage] : nullptr;
 }
 
 /* ---------------------------------------------------------------------- */
@@ -258,6 +233,17 @@ void MyPage<T>::allocate() {
   }
 }
 
+/** Free all allocated pages of this class instance */
+
+template <class T>
+void MyPage<T>::deallocate() {
+  reset();
+  for (int i = 0; i < npage; i++) free(pages[i]);
+  free(pages);
+  pages = nullptr;
+  npage = 0;
+}
+
 // explicit instantiations
 
 namespace LAMMPS_NS {
diff --git a/src/my_page.h b/src/my_page.h
index 1f40eb48cf..9c3bcd1b61 100644
--- a/src/my_page.h
+++ b/src/my_page.h
@@ -39,12 +39,10 @@ class MyPage {
   MyPage();
   virtual ~MyPage();
 
-  int init(int user_maxchunk = 1, int user_pagesize = 1024,
-           int user_pagedelta = 1);
-
-  T *get();
-  T *get(int n);
+  int init(int user_maxchunk=1, int user_pagesize=1024,
+           int user_pagedelta=1);
 
+  T *get(int n=1);
   T *vget();
   void vgot(int n);
 
@@ -79,6 +77,7 @@ class MyPage {
                   // 1 = chunk size exceeded maxchunk
                   // 2 = memory allocation error
   void allocate();
+  void deallocate();
 };
 
 }
diff --git a/unittest/utils/test_my_page.cpp b/unittest/utils/test_my_page.cpp
index 2f56bea725..f6dbd3e3b4 100644
--- a/unittest/utils/test_my_page.cpp
+++ b/unittest/utils/test_my_page.cpp
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@
 
 using namespace LAMMPS_NS;
 
-TEST(MyPage, int_default) {
+TEST(MyPage, int) {
     MyPage<int> p;
 
     // default init. maxchunk=1, pagesize=1024
@@ -53,12 +53,8 @@ TEST(MyPage, int_default) {
     ASSERT_EQ(iptr,p.get(1));
     ASSERT_EQ(p.ndatum,3);
     ASSERT_EQ(p.nchunk,3);
-}
 
-TEST(MyPage, int_custom) {
-    MyPage<int> p;
-
-    // default init. maxchunk=16, pagesize=256
+    // restart with custom init. maxchunk=16, pagesize=256
     int rv = p.init(16,256);
     ASSERT_EQ(rv,0);