diff --git a/src/atom_vec_ellipsoid.cpp b/src/atom_vec_ellipsoid.cpp
index 8a3ab90aaf..b8e711f142 100755
--- a/src/atom_vec_ellipsoid.cpp
+++ b/src/atom_vec_ellipsoid.cpp
@@ -186,7 +186,7 @@ void AtomVecEllipsoid::copy_bonus(int i, int j)
    this may create or delete entry in bonus data
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- */
 
-void AtomVecEllipsoid::set_bonus(int i, 
+void AtomVecEllipsoid::set_shape(int i, 
 				 double shapex, double shapey, double shapez)
 {
   if (ellipsoid[i] < 0) {
diff --git a/src/atom_vec_ellipsoid.h b/src/atom_vec_ellipsoid.h
index f0b176e150..537f1eaab7 100755
--- a/src/atom_vec_ellipsoid.h
+++ b/src/atom_vec_ellipsoid.h
@@ -68,12 +68,13 @@ class AtomVecEllipsoid : public AtomVec {
 
   // manipulate Bonus data structure for extra atom info
 
-  void grow_bonus();
-  void copy_bonus(int, int);
-  void set_bonus(int, double, double, double);
   void clear_bonus();
   void data_atom_bonus(int, char **);
 
+  // unique to AtomVecEllipsoid
+
+  void set_shape(int, double, double, double);
+
  private:
   double PI;
   int *tag,*type,*mask,*image;
@@ -83,6 +84,9 @@ class AtomVecEllipsoid : public AtomVec {
   int *ellipsoid;
 
   int nlocal_bonus,nghost_bonus,nmax_bonus;
+
+  void grow_bonus();
+  void copy_bonus(int, int);
 };
 
 }
diff --git a/src/set.cpp b/src/set.cpp
index ee7cc89fce..fc8b894edf 100644
--- a/src/set.cpp
+++ b/src/set.cpp
@@ -381,7 +381,7 @@ void Set::set(int keyword)
     // set shape
 
     else if (keyword == SHAPE)
-      avec_ellipsoid->set_bonus(i,0.5*xvalue,0.5*yvalue,0.5*zvalue);
+      avec_ellipsoid->set_shape(i,0.5*xvalue,0.5*yvalue,0.5*zvalue);
 
     // set rmass via density
     // if radius > 0.0, treat as sphere