diff --git a/src/atom.cpp b/src/atom.cpp
index b0ee766c8d..02bd5605a3 100644
--- a/src/atom.cpp
+++ b/src/atom.cpp
@@ -227,6 +227,7 @@ Atom::Atom(LAMMPS *_lmp) : Pointers(_lmp)
   // type labels
 
   lmap = nullptr;
+  types_style = NUMERIC;
 
   // custom atom arrays
 
diff --git a/src/write_data.cpp b/src/write_data.cpp
index 75182c869f..2bc3a21627 100644
--- a/src/write_data.cpp
+++ b/src/write_data.cpp
@@ -73,7 +73,8 @@ void WriteData::command(int narg, char **arg)
   coeffflag = 1;
   fixflag = 1;
   lmapflag = 1;
-  atom->types_style = Atom::NUMERIC;
+  // store current (default) setting since we may change it.
+  int types_style = atom->types_style;
   int noinit = 0;
 
   int iarg = 1;
@@ -134,6 +135,8 @@ void WriteData::command(int narg, char **arg)
   }
 
   write(file);
+  // restore saved setting
+  atom->types_style = types_style;
 }
 
 /* ----------------------------------------------------------------------
diff --git a/unittest/commands/test_labelmap.cpp b/unittest/commands/test_labelmap.cpp
index f847beba13..8688575767 100644
--- a/unittest/commands/test_labelmap.cpp
+++ b/unittest/commands/test_labelmap.cpp
@@ -57,6 +57,7 @@ TEST_F(LabelMapTest, Atoms)
     EXPECT_EQ(atom->natoms, 0);
     EXPECT_EQ(domain->box_exist, 0);
     EXPECT_EQ(atom->labelmapflag, 0);
+    EXPECT_EQ(atom->types_style, Atom::NUMERIC);
     ASSERT_EQ(atom->lmap, nullptr);
     TEST_FAILURE(".*ERROR: Labelmap command before simulation box is.*",
                  command("labelmap atom 3 C1"););