diff --git a/src/read_data.cpp b/src/read_data.cpp
index 02889c44b6..19e5c56b81 100644
--- a/src/read_data.cpp
+++ b/src/read_data.cpp
@@ -414,7 +414,7 @@ void ReadData::command(int narg, char **arg)
     // open file on proc 0
 
     if (me == 0) {
-      if (firstpass && screen) fprintf(screen,"Reading data file ...\n");
+      if (firstpass) utils::logmesg(lmp,"Reading data file ...\n");
       open(arg[0]);
     } else fp = NULL;
 
diff --git a/src/special.cpp b/src/special.cpp
index 0735cb72c8..3780fab5c0 100644
--- a/src/special.cpp
+++ b/src/special.cpp
@@ -59,14 +59,15 @@ void Special::build()
   MPI_Barrier(world);
   double time1 = MPI_Wtime();
 
-  if (me == 0 && screen) {
+  if (me == 0) {
     const double * const special_lj   = force->special_lj;
     const double * const special_coul = force->special_coul;
-    fmt::print(screen,"Finding 1-2 1-3 1-4 neighbors ...\n"
-               "  special bond factors lj:    {:<8} {:<8} {:<8}\n"
-               "  special bond factors coul:  {:<8} {:<8} {:<8}\n",
-               special_lj[1],special_lj[2],special_lj[3],
-               special_coul[1],special_coul[2],special_coul[3]);
+    auto mesg = fmt::format("Finding 1-2 1-3 1-4 neighbors ...\n"
+                            "  special bond factors lj:    {:<8} {:<8} {:<8}\n"
+                            "  special bond factors coul:  {:<8} {:<8} {:<8}\n",
+                            special_lj[1],special_lj[2],special_lj[3],
+                            special_coul[1],special_coul[2],special_coul[3]);
+    utils::logmesg(lmp,mesg);
   }
 
   // initialize nspecial counters to 0