diff --git a/src/KOKKOS/pair_kokkos.h b/src/KOKKOS/pair_kokkos.h
index c4bd603041..399142dfaf 100644
--- a/src/KOKKOS/pair_kokkos.h
+++ b/src/KOKKOS/pair_kokkos.h
@@ -923,6 +923,8 @@ int GetMaxNeighs(NeighStyle* list)
     maxneigh = MAX(maxneigh,num_neighs);
   }, Kokkos::Max<int>(maxneigh));
 
+  if (maxneigh < 0) maxneigh = 0;
+
   return maxneigh;
 }
 
@@ -958,6 +960,7 @@ EV_FLOAT pair_compute_neighlist (PairStyle* fpair, std::enable_if_t<(NEIGHFLAG&P
     if (!vectorsize || lastcall < fpair->lmp->neighbor->lastcall) {
       lastcall = fpair->lmp->update->ntimestep;
       vectorsize = GetMaxNeighs(list);
+      if (vectorsize == 0) vectorsize = 1;
       vectorsize = MathSpecial::powint(2,(int(log2(vectorsize) + 0.5))); // round to nearest power of 2
 
   #if defined(KOKKOS_ENABLE_HIP)