diff --git a/src/MANYBODY/pair_comb3.cpp b/src/MANYBODY/pair_comb3.cpp
index bf66ea550a..a79d919d64 100644
--- a/src/MANYBODY/pair_comb3.cpp
+++ b/src/MANYBODY/pair_comb3.cpp
@@ -594,9 +594,9 @@ void PairComb3::read_file(char *file)
   int params_per_line = 74;
   char **words = new char*[params_per_line+1];
 
-  if (params) delete [] params;
+  memory->sfree(params);
   params = NULL;
-  nparams = 0;
+  nparams = maxparam = 0;
 
   // open file on proc 0
 
@@ -656,9 +656,9 @@ void PairComb3::read_file(char *file)
       if ((ptr = strchr(line,'#'))) *ptr = '\0';
       nwords = atom->count_words(line);
     }
-    if (nwords != params_per_line){
+    if (nwords != params_per_line) {
       error->all(FLERR,"Incorrect format in COMB3 potential file");
-}
+    }
     // words = ptrs to all words in line
 
     nwords = 0;