diff --git a/MC/bin/o2dpg_sim_workflow_anchored.py b/MC/bin/o2dpg_sim_workflow_anchored.py
index c8a815598..2ece8ad7f 100755
--- a/MC/bin/o2dpg_sim_workflow_anchored.py
+++ b/MC/bin/o2dpg_sim_workflow_anchored.py
@@ -742,7 +742,7 @@ def main():
     forwardargs += " -tf " + str(args.tf) + " --sor " + str(effective_run_start) + " --timestamp " + str(timestamp) + " --production-offset " + str(prod_offset) + " -run " + str(args.run_number) + " --run-anchored --first-orbit "       \
                    + str(effective_first_orbit) + " --orbitsPerTF " + str(GLOparams["OrbitsPerTF"]) + str(energyarg)
     # the following options can be overwritten/influenced from the outside
-    if not '-col' in forwardargs:
+    if not re.search(r'(?<!\S)-col(?=[\s=])', forwardargs):
        forwardargs += ' -col ' + ColSystem
     if not '--readoutDets' in forwardargs:
        forwardargs += ' --readoutDets ' + GLOparams['detList']