diff --git a/src/fix_langevin.cpp b/src/fix_langevin.cpp
index c71ffbc3fd..cf3161e8a8 100644
--- a/src/fix_langevin.cpp
+++ b/src/fix_langevin.cpp
@@ -145,9 +145,6 @@ FixLangevin::FixLangevin(LAMMPS *lmp, int narg, char **arg) :
   id_temp = NULL;
   temperature = NULL;
 
-  // flangevin is unallocated until first call to setup()
-  // compute_scalar checks for this and returns 0.0 if flangevin is NULL
-
   energy = 0.0;
   flangevin = NULL;
   franprev = NULL;
@@ -827,7 +824,7 @@ int FixLangevin::modify_param(int narg, char **arg)
 
 double FixLangevin::compute_scalar()
 {
-  if (!tallyflag || flangevin == NULL) return 0.0;
+  if (!tallyflag) return 0.0;
 
   // capture the very first energy transfer to thermal reservoir