diff --git a/ABACUS.develop/source/src_pw/atom_spec.cpp b/ABACUS.develop/source/src_pw/atom_spec.cpp
index 8d2f9e2036..7422d71653 100644
--- a/ABACUS.develop/source/src_pw/atom_spec.cpp
+++ b/ABACUS.develop/source/src_pw/atom_spec.cpp
@@ -127,6 +127,7 @@ void Atom::bcast_atom()
     Parallel_Common::bcast_int( stapos_wf );
     Parallel_Common::bcast_string( label );
     Parallel_Common::bcast_int( l_nchi, nwl+1);
+    Parallel_Common::bcast_bool( flag_empty_element );
 
     if (MY_RANK!=0)
     {