diff --git a/examples/ellipse/in.ellipse.gayberne b/examples/ellipse/in.ellipse.gayberne
index 7a768255de..61e38c015d 100644
--- a/examples/ellipse/in.ellipse.gayberne
+++ b/examples/ellipse/in.ellipse.gayberne
@@ -18,6 +18,10 @@ shape	     1 1 1 1
 shape	     2 3 1 1
 
 compute	     rot all temp/asphere
+group	     spheroid type 1
+variable     dof equal count(spheroid)+2
+compute_modify rot extra ${dof}
+
 velocity     all create 2.4 87287 loop geom
 
 pair_style   gayberne 1.0 3.0 1.0 4.0
@@ -46,6 +50,8 @@ dump	     1 all custom 100 dump.ellipse.gayberne &
 fix	     1 all npt/asphere 2.0 2.0 0.1 xyz 0.0 1.0 1.0
 fix	     2 all enforce2d
 
+compute_modify 1_temp extra ${dof}
+
 # equilibrate to shrink box around dilute system
 
 run	     2000
diff --git a/examples/ellipse/in.ellipse.resquared b/examples/ellipse/in.ellipse.resquared
index 3c7067ec62..2bd270a88a 100644
--- a/examples/ellipse/in.ellipse.resquared
+++ b/examples/ellipse/in.ellipse.resquared
@@ -18,6 +18,10 @@ shape	     1 1 1 1
 shape	     2 3 1 1
 
 compute	     rot all temp/asphere
+group	     spheroid type 1
+variable     dof equal count(spheroid)+2
+compute_modify rot extra ${dof}
+
 velocity     all create 2.4 87287 loop geom
 
 #pair_style   gayberne 1.0 3.0 1.0 4.0
@@ -46,6 +50,8 @@ dump	     1 all custom 100 dump.ellipse.resquared &
 fix	     1 all npt/asphere 2.0 2.0 0.1 xyz 0.0 1.0 1.0
 fix	     2 all enforce2d
 
+compute_modify 1_temp extra ${dof}
+
 # equilibrate to shrink box around dilute system
 
 run	     2000