diff --git a/src/FC.f90 b/src/FC.f90
index 2af40ef..c98ade3 100644
--- a/src/FC.f90
+++ b/src/FC.f90
@@ -155,7 +155,7 @@ subroutine feature_construction
    rewind(funit)
    
    do j=1,nreject
-      read(funit,'(a)') line
+      read(funit,*) line
       call string_split(line,reject(j:j),' ')
       reject(j)=adjustl(reject(j))
    end do