diff --git a/src/REAXFF/fix_qeq_reaxff.cpp b/src/REAXFF/fix_qeq_reaxff.cpp
index 067272f0f7..dc8fbd5afd 100644
--- a/src/REAXFF/fix_qeq_reaxff.cpp
+++ b/src/REAXFF/fix_qeq_reaxff.cpp
@@ -344,7 +344,7 @@ void FixQEqReaxFF::allocate_matrix()
   int mincap;
   double safezone;
 
-  if (reaxflag) {
+  if (reaxflag && reaxff) {
     mincap = reaxff->api->system->mincap;
     safezone = reaxff->api->system->safezone;
   } else {
diff --git a/src/REAXFF/fix_qtpie_reaxff.cpp b/src/REAXFF/fix_qtpie_reaxff.cpp
index 48c1109178..5acdea0482 100644
--- a/src/REAXFF/fix_qtpie_reaxff.cpp
+++ b/src/REAXFF/fix_qtpie_reaxff.cpp
@@ -370,7 +370,7 @@ void FixQtpieReaxFF::allocate_matrix()
   int mincap;
   double safezone;
 
-  if (reaxflag) {
+  if (reaxflag && reaxff) {
     mincap = reaxff->api->system->mincap;
     safezone = reaxff->api->system->safezone;
   } else {