diff --git a/src/frontend/device.c b/src/frontend/device.c
index b44df9416..55381e5ba 100644
--- a/src/frontend/device.c
+++ b/src/frontend/device.c
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ Modified: 2000 AlansFixes
 #include "ngspice/cpdefs.h"
 #include "ngspice/ftedefs.h"
 #include "ngspice/dgen.h"
+#include "ngspice/sim.h"
 
 #include "circuits.h"
 #include "device.h"
@@ -1324,6 +1325,8 @@ com_alter_common(wordlist *wl, int do_model)
         if (!dv)
             return;
         dv->v_name = copy("real vector");
+        dv->v_type = SV_NOTYPE;
+        dv->v_flags = VF_REAL;
         type &= IF_VARTYPES;
         if (type == IF_REALVEC) {
             list = TMALLOC(double, 1);