diff --git a/src/unpreserve.py b/src/unpreserve.py
index 5644752c5..0bbf9618d 100644
--- a/src/unpreserve.py
+++ b/src/unpreserve.py
@@ -63,6 +63,7 @@ class Reader(object):
                 self.creator = self.Creator(*self.args, **self.kwargs)
                 self.modifiedCreator = False
                 self.indent = indent
+            (command, rest) = s.split(None, 1)
             command = self.normalizeCommand(command)
             self.modifiedCreator = True
             if hasattr(self.creator, command):