diff --git a/src/compute.cpp b/src/compute.cpp
index 5d5a4d5246..d703cbfe6a 100644
--- a/src/compute.cpp
+++ b/src/compute.cpp
@@ -121,8 +121,8 @@ void Compute::init_flags()
   if (scalar_flag && (extscalar < 0))
     error->all(FLERR, "Must set 'extscalar' when setting 'scalar_flag' for compute {}.  "
                "Contact the developer.", style);
-  if (vector_flag && (extvector < 0))
-    error->all(FLERR, "Must set 'extvector' when setting 'vector_flag' for compute {}.  "
+  if (vector_flag && (extvector < 0) && !extlist)
+    error->all(FLERR, "Must set 'extvector' or 'extlist' when setting 'vector_flag' for compute {}.  "
                "Contact the developer.", style);
   if (array_flag && (extarray < 0))
     error->all(FLERR, "Must set 'extarray' when setting 'array_flag' for compute {}.  "
diff --git a/src/fix.cpp b/src/fix.cpp
index 1e1ab8c928..dba225549d 100644
--- a/src/fix.cpp
+++ b/src/fix.cpp
@@ -134,8 +134,8 @@ void Fix::init_flags()
    if (scalar_flag && (extscalar < 0))
     error->all(FLERR, "Must set 'extscalar' when setting 'scalar_flag' for fix {}.  "
                "Contact the developer.", style);
-  if (vector_flag && (extvector < 0))
-    error->all(FLERR, "Must set 'extvector' when setting 'vector_flag' for fix {}.  "
+  if (vector_flag && (extvector < 0) && !extlist)
+    error->all(FLERR, "Must set 'extvector' or 'extlist' when setting 'vector_flag' for fix {}.  "
                "Contact the developer.", style);
   if (array_flag && (extarray < 0))
     error->all(FLERR, "Must set 'extarray' when setting 'array_flag' for fix {}.  "