diff --git a/src/atom_vec_ellipsoid.cpp b/src/atom_vec_ellipsoid.cpp
index 8c98104b12..cce970d98c 100755
--- a/src/atom_vec_ellipsoid.cpp
+++ b/src/atom_vec_ellipsoid.cpp
@@ -657,7 +657,8 @@ int AtomVecEllipsoid::pack_border_vel(int n, int *list, double *buf,
         if (ellipsoid[j] < 0) buf[m++] = 0;
         else {
           buf[m++] = 1;
-          quat = bonus[ellipsoid[j]].quat;
+          shape = bonus[ellipsoid[j]].shape;
+          quat  = bonus[ellipsoid[j]].quat;
           buf[m++] = shape[0];
           buf[m++] = shape[1];
           buf[m++] = shape[2];