diff --git a/python/damask/table.py b/python/damask/table.py
index 582089a54..3ef824c6d 100644
--- a/python/damask/table.py
+++ b/python/damask/table.py
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ class Table():
             f.seek(0)
 
         try:
-            N_comment_lines,keyword = f.readline().split()
+            N_comment_lines,keyword = f.readline().strip().split(maxsplit=1)
             if keyword != 'header':
                 raise TypeError
             else:
diff --git a/python/tests/test_Table.py b/python/tests/test_Table.py
index eed7b76b8..369a99efb 100644
--- a/python/tests/test_Table.py
+++ b/python/tests/test_Table.py
@@ -47,6 +47,13 @@ class TestTable:
             new = Table.from_ASCII(f)
         assert all(default.data==new.data) and default.shapes == new.shapes
 
+    def test_write_read_new_style(self,default,tmpdir):
+        with open(tmpdir.join('new_style.txt'),'w') as f:
+            default.to_ASCII(f,new=True)
+        with open(tmpdir.join('new_style.txt')) as f:
+            new = Table.from_ASCII(f)
+        assert all(default.data==new.data) and default.shapes == new.shapes
+
     def test_read_ang_str(self,reference_dir):
         new = Table.from_ang(os.path.join(reference_dir,'simple.ang'))
         assert new.data.shape == (4,10) and \