diff --git a/src/improper.cpp b/src/improper.cpp
index 3476bcdb50..136e913dd0 100644
--- a/src/improper.cpp
+++ b/src/improper.cpp
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ Improper::Improper(LAMMPS *_lmp) : Pointers(_lmp)
 {
   energy = 0.0;
   writedata = 0;
+  reinitflag = 1;
   for (int i = 0; i < 4; i++) symmatoms[i] = 0;
 
   allocated = 0;
@@ -421,3 +422,15 @@ double Improper::memory_usage()
   bytes += (double) comm->nthreads * maxvatom * 6 * sizeof(double);
   return bytes;
 }
+
+/* -----------------------------------------------------------------------
+   reset all type-based improper params via init()
+-------------------------------------------------------------------------- */
+
+void Improper::reinit()
+{
+  if (!reinitflag)
+    error->all(FLERR, "Fix adapt interface to this improper style not supported");
+
+  init();
+}