diff --git a/src/neighbor.cpp b/src/neighbor.cpp
index b62945f116..3d1f37a03b 100644
--- a/src/neighbor.cpp
+++ b/src/neighbor.cpp
@@ -402,13 +402,6 @@ void Neighbor::init()
     }
   }
 
-  // maxwt = max multiplicative factor on atom indices stored in neigh list
-
-  maxwt = 0;
-  if (special_flag[1] == 2) maxwt = 2;
-  if (special_flag[2] == 2) maxwt = 3;
-  if (special_flag[3] == 2) maxwt = 4;
-
   // ------------------------------------------------------------------
   // xhold array
 
diff --git a/src/neighbor.h b/src/neighbor.h
index 50de4b4c98..8fe423c60c 100644
--- a/src/neighbor.h
+++ b/src/neighbor.h
@@ -166,7 +166,6 @@ class Neighbor : protected Pointers {
 
   int maxatom;                     // max size of atom-based NeighList arrays
   int maxrequest;                  // max size of NeighRequest list
-  int maxwt;                       // max weighting factor applied + 1
 
   // info for other Neigh classes: NBin,NStencil,NPair,NTopo