diff --git a/nexus/lib/machines.py b/nexus/lib/machines.py
index 0a4094ac87..f9deb27b39 100644
--- a/nexus/lib/machines.py
+++ b/nexus/lib/machines.py
@@ -120,31 +120,7 @@ def read(self,options):
                 self[str(len(self))] = o
             #end for
         elif isinstance(options,str):
-            nopts = 0
-            intext = False
-            nstart = -2
-            nend   = -2
-            n = 0
-            for c in options:
-                if c=='-' and nstart!=n-1 and not intext:
-                    prevdash=True
-                    if nopts>0:
-                        opt  = options[nstart:n].strip()
-                        name = opt.replace('-','').replace('=',' ').split()[0]
-                        self[name]=opt
-                    #end if
-                    nopts+=1
-                    nstart = n
-                elif c=='"' or c=="'":
-                    intext=not intext
-                #end if
-                n+=1
-            #end for
-            if nopts>0:
-                opt  = options[nstart:n].strip()
-                name = opt.replace('-','').replace('=',' ').split()[0]
-                self[name]=opt
-            #end if
+            self[str(len(self))] = options
         else:
             self.error('invalid type provided to Options')
         #end if
diff --git a/nexus/tests/unit/test_machines.py b/nexus/tests/unit/test_machines.py
index cf92ea8b4d..471d7b86a5 100644
--- a/nexus/tests/unit/test_machines.py
+++ b/nexus/tests/unit/test_machines.py
@@ -90,16 +90,8 @@ def test_options():
 
     # read
     opts = '-a -b 1 -c=2 --dname="0 1 2" --evar -fval -gval other --hval'
-    ref = obj(
-        a     = '-a',
-        b     = '-b 1',
-        c     = '-c=2',
-        dname = '--dname="0 1 2"',
-        evar  = '--evar',
-        fval  = '-fval',
-        gval  = '-gval other',
-        hval  = '--hval',
-        )
+    ref = obj()
+    ref['0'] = opts
     o = Options()
     o.read(opts)
     assert(object_eq(o.to_obj(),ref))
@@ -107,7 +99,7 @@ def test_options():
     # write
     opts_write = o.write()
     o2 = Options()
-    o2.read(opts_write)
+    o2.read(opts_write.strip())
     assert(object_eq(o2.to_obj(),ref))
 #end def test_options