diff --git a/src/force.cpp b/src/force.cpp
index c5b691dced..5359785b64 100644
--- a/src/force.cpp
+++ b/src/force.cpp
@@ -185,12 +185,9 @@ void Force::init()
 
   // check if pair style must be specified after restart
   if (pair_restart) {
-    if (!pair) {
-      char msg[128];
-      snprintf(msg,128,"Must re-specify non-restarted pair style (%s) "
-               "after read_restart", pair_restart);
-      error->all(FLERR,msg);
-    }
+    if (!pair)
+      error->all(FLERR,fmt::format("Must re-specify non-restarted pair style "
+                                   "({}) after read_restart", pair_restart));
   }
 
   if (kspace) kspace->init();         // kspace must come before pair