diff --git a/src/lmptype.h b/src/lmptype.h
index 2be1d2ac385ccdb0e1dad96a4c23f2143a4bf10a..7e359d2abeda05c1b0ec992cb7b113b9be7e67ab 100644
--- a/src/lmptype.h
+++ b/src/lmptype.h
@@ -46,6 +46,13 @@
 #define PRId64 "ld"
 #endif
 
+// favor qsort over mergesort for stable release
+// TODO: to be removed after stable release
+
+#ifndef LMP_QSORT
+#define LMP_QSORT
+#endif
+
 namespace LAMMPS_NS {
 
 // enum used for KOKKOS host/device flags