diff --git a/src/safe_pointers.h b/src/safe_pointers.h
index 22b2969ced..ffc13588c5 100644
--- a/src/safe_pointers.h
+++ b/src/safe_pointers.h
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@
 // collection of smart pointers for specific purposes
 
 #include <cstdio>
+#include <utility>
 
 namespace LAMMPS_NS {
 
@@ -36,7 +37,7 @@ class SafeFilePtr {
   SafeFilePtr(FILE *_fp) : fp(_fp) {};
 
   SafeFilePtr(const SafeFilePtr &) = delete;
-  SafeFilePtr(const SafeFilePtr &&) = delete;
+  SafeFilePtr(SafeFilePtr &&o) noexcept : fp(std::exchange(o.fp, nullptr)) {}
   SafeFilePtr &operator=(const SafeFilePtr &) = delete;
 
   ~SafeFilePtr()