diff --git a/src/bias/MetaD.cpp b/src/bias/MetaD.cpp
index 27ee78e6fae808f971bd458906c33ae3b970f781..9c3a1f7bccf3eb8da9cce6f70f63b271cb9fad7b 100644
--- a/src/bias/MetaD.cpp
+++ b/src/bias/MetaD.cpp
@@ -433,7 +433,6 @@ public:
   void calculate();
   void update();
   static void registerKeywords(Keywords& keys);
-  bool checkNeedsGradients()const {if(adaptive_==FlexibleBin::geometry) {return true;} else {return false;}}
   bool checkNeedsGradients()const;
 };