diff --git a/src/user/user_init.c b/src/user/user_init.c
index 4ae5de6c..a9e0b64c 100644
--- a/src/user/user_init.c
+++ b/src/user/user_init.c
@@ -78,7 +78,6 @@ void mjs_defaultBody(mjsBody* body) {
   memset(body, 0, sizeof(mjsBody));
 
   // body frame
-  body->pos[0] = mjNAN;
   body->quat[0] = 1;
 
   // inertial frame
diff --git a/src/user/user_objects.cc b/src/user/user_objects.cc
index aa37a895..b3c17780 100644
--- a/src/user/user_objects.cc
+++ b/src/user/user_objects.cc
@@ -1482,11 +1482,6 @@ void mjCBody::Compile(void) {
   }
   userdata_.resize(model->nuser_body);
 
-  // pos defaults to (0,0,0)
-  if (!mjuu_defined(pos[0])) {
-     mjuu_setvec(pos, 0, 0, 0);
-  }
-
   // normalize user-defined quaternions
   mjuu_normvec(quat, 4);
   mjuu_normvec(iquat, 4);
@@ -1524,23 +1519,12 @@ void mjCBody::Compile(void) {
     InertiaFromGeom();
   }
 
-  // both pos and ipos undefined: error
-  if (!mjuu_defined(ipos[0]) && !mjuu_defined(pos[0])) {
-    throw mjCError(this, "body pos and ipos are both undefined");
-  }
-
   // ipos undefined: copy body frame into inertial
-  else if (!mjuu_defined(ipos[0])) {
+  if (!mjuu_defined(ipos[0])) {
     mjuu_copyvec(ipos, pos, 3);
     mjuu_copyvec(iquat, quat, 4);
   }
 
-  // pos undefined: copy inertial frame into body frame
-  else if (!mjuu_defined(pos[0])) {
-    mjuu_copyvec(pos, ipos, 3);
-    mjuu_copyvec(quat, iquat, 4);
-  }
-
   // check and correct mass and inertia
   if (id>0) {
     // fix minimum