diff --git a/src/domain.cpp b/src/domain.cpp
index 1223a83411..e2dea8373b 100644
--- a/src/domain.cpp
+++ b/src/domain.cpp
@@ -1209,6 +1209,10 @@ void Domain::add_region(int narg, char **arg)
 
   else error->all(FLERR,"Invalid region style");
 
+  // initialize any region variables via init()
+  // in case region is used between runs, e.g. to print a variable
+
+  regions[nregion]->init();
   nregion++;
 }
 
diff --git a/src/region.cpp b/src/region.cpp
index 14f7155e4a..7e2532a8aa 100644
--- a/src/region.cpp
+++ b/src/region.cpp
@@ -397,8 +397,4 @@ void Region::options(int narg, char **arg)
 
   if (moveflag || rotateflag) dynamic = 1;
   else dynamic = 0;
-
-  // initialize option variables in case region is used between runs
-
-  init();
 }