diff --git a/src/KOKKOS/fix_efield_kokkos.cpp b/src/KOKKOS/fix_efield_kokkos.cpp
index b08542fd17..45af29e36d 100644
--- a/src/KOKKOS/fix_efield_kokkos.cpp
+++ b/src/KOKKOS/fix_efield_kokkos.cpp
@@ -106,7 +106,7 @@ void FixEfieldKokkos<DeviceType>::post_force(int vflag)
   // update region if necessary
 
   if (region) {
-    if (!utils::strmatch(region->style, "^block"))
+    if (!(utils::strmatch(region->style, "^block") || utils::strmatch(region->style, "^sphere")))
       error->all(FLERR,"Cannot (yet) use {}-style region with fix efield/kk",region->style);
     region->prematch();
     DAT::tdual_int_1d k_match = DAT::tdual_int_1d("efield:k_match",nlocal);