diff --git a/kwave/options/simulation_execution_options.py b/kwave/options/simulation_execution_options.py
index d4b4b0cb..07d1e9b2 100644
--- a/kwave/options/simulation_execution_options.py
+++ b/kwave/options/simulation_execution_options.py
@@ -156,13 +156,17 @@ def as_list(self, sensor: kSensor) -> list[str]:
         if self.device_num is not None:
             if self.device_num < 0:
                 raise ValueError("Device number must be non-negative")
-            options_list.append(f"-g {self.device_num}")
+            options_list.append("-g")
+            options_list.append(str(self.device_num)) 
 
         if self.num_threads is not None and PLATFORM != "windows":
-            options_list.append(f"-t {self.num_threads}")
+            options_list.append("-t")
+            options_list.append(str(self.num_threads)) 
 
         if self.verbose_level > 0:
-            options_list.append(f"--verbose {self.verbose_level}")
+            options_list.append("--verbose")
+            options_list.append(str(self.verbose_level))
+
 
         record_options_map = {
             "p": "p_raw", "p_max": "p_max", "p_min": "p_min", "p_rms": "p_rms",
@@ -184,7 +188,8 @@ def as_list(self, sensor: kSensor) -> list[str]:
             options_list.append("--p_raw")
 
         if sensor.record_start_index is not None:
-            options_list.append(f"-s {sensor.record_start_index}")
+            options_list.append("-s")
+            options_list.append(f"{sensor.record_start_index}")
 
         return options_list
 
diff --git a/tests/test_simulation_execution_options.py b/tests/test_simulation_execution_options.py
index 7eb8905c..8a25de9b 100644
--- a/tests/test_simulation_execution_options.py
+++ b/tests/test_simulation_execution_options.py
@@ -96,12 +96,16 @@ def test_get_options_string_darwin(self):
 
         options_list = options.as_list(self.mock_sensor)
         expected_elements = [
-            f"-g {options.device_num}",
-            f"-t {os.cpu_count()}",
-            "--verbose 2",
+            "-g",
+            f"{options.device_num}",
+            "-t",
+            f"{os.cpu_count()}",
+            "--verbose",
+            "2",
             "--p_raw",
             "--u_max",
-            f"-s {self.mock_sensor.record_start_index}"  # Updated to use self.mock_sensor
+            "-s",
+            f"{self.mock_sensor.record_start_index}"  # Updated to use self.mock_sensor
         ]
         for element in expected_elements:
             self.assertIn(element, options_list)
@@ -116,11 +120,14 @@ def test_as_list_windows(self):
 
         options_list = options.as_list(self.mock_sensor)
         expected_elements = [
-            f"-g {options.device_num}",
-            "--verbose 2",
+            "-g",
+            f"{options.device_num}",
+            "--verbose",
+            "2",
             "--p_raw",
             "--u_max",
-            f"-s {self.mock_sensor.record_start_index}"  # Updated to use self.mock_sensor
+            "-s",
+            f"{self.mock_sensor.record_start_index}"  
         ]
         for element in expected_elements:
             self.assertIn(element, options_list)
@@ -136,12 +143,16 @@ def test_as_list_darwin(self):
 
         options_list = options.as_list(self.mock_sensor)
         expected_elements = [
-            f"-g {options.device_num}",
-            f"-t {os.cpu_count()}",
-            "--verbose 2",
+            "-g",
+            f"{options.device_num}",
+            "-t",
+            f"{os.cpu_count()}",
+            "--verbose",
+            "2",
             "--p_raw",
             "--u_max",
-            f"-s {self.mock_sensor.record_start_index}"  # Updated to use self.mock_sensor
+            "-s",
+            f"{self.mock_sensor.record_start_index}"  # Updated to use self.mock_sensor
         ]
         for element in expected_elements:
             self.assertIn(element, options_list)
@@ -156,9 +167,12 @@ def test_as_list_custom_record(self):
 
         options_list = options.as_list(self.mock_sensor)
         expected_elements = [
-            f"-g {options.device_num}",
-            "-t 8",
-            "--verbose 1",
+            "-g",
+            f"{options.device_num}",
+            "-t",
+            "8",
+            "--verbose",
+            "1",
             "--p_max",
             "--u_min",
             "--p_raw"  # Default if no specific 'p' or 'u' options are given
@@ -183,8 +197,10 @@ def test_as_list_no_record(self):
 
         options_list = options.as_list(self.mock_sensor)
         expected_elements = [
-            f"-g {options.device_num}",
-            "-t 4",
+            "-g",
+            f"{options.device_num}",
+            "-t",
+            "4",
             "--p_raw",  # Default value
         ]
         for element in expected_elements: