diff --git a/CHANGES/v2.4.md b/CHANGES/v2.4.md
index 5be862e9c62ef972466cb91bf3a53d66ef083452..abb0fbe0da61a8825af29ff80db24c51af906503 100644
--- a/CHANGES/v2.4.md
+++ b/CHANGES/v2.4.md
@@ -230,3 +230,7 @@ For users:
- Added aliases for some actions/options containing dashes (`-`) in their name. This will improve
backward compatibility when these actions/options will be removed (see \issue{449}).
+## Version 2.4.6 ()
+
+For users:
+ - Fixed a bug in \ref COORDINATIONNUMBER where derivatives where wrong when using R_POWER > 2, thanks to @MoleOrbitalHybridAnalyst for spotting and fixing
diff --git a/regtest/multicolvar/rt-coordination-powers/derivatives.reference b/regtest/multicolvar/rt-coordination-powers/derivatives.reference
index 5c4c73cea81fa7347ec6155c6957d0c3f1685312..b11b9df8d68e66c188553105d0846adeb6e75270 100644
--- a/regtest/multicolvar/rt-coordination-powers/derivatives.reference
+++ b/regtest/multicolvar/rt-coordination-powers/derivatives.reference
@@ -1,196 +1,196 @@
#! FIELDS time parameter c1.mean c1num.mean
- 0.000000 0 0.3371 0.3371
- 0.000000 1 0.2309 0.2309
- 0.000000 2 0.1160 0.1160
- 0.000000 3 -0.3510 -0.3510
- 0.000000 4 0.3400 0.3400
- 0.000000 5 0.0247 0.0247
- 0.000000 6 -0.2278 -0.2278
- 0.000000 7 -0.3331 -0.3331
- 0.000000 8 0.1718 0.1718
- 0.000000 9 0.3076 0.3076
- 0.000000 10 -0.3590 -0.3590
- 0.000000 11 0.0586 0.0586
- 0.000000 12 0.3427 0.3427
- 0.000000 13 0.3101 0.3101
- 0.000000 14 -0.0220 -0.0220
- 0.000000 15 -0.3300 -0.3300
- 0.000000 16 0.2127 0.2127
- 0.000000 17 -0.1563 -0.1563
- 0.000000 18 -0.3289 -0.3289
- 0.000000 19 -0.3330 -0.3330
- 0.000000 20 -0.0762 -0.0762
- 0.000000 21 0.2298 0.2298
- 0.000000 22 -0.3172 -0.3171
- 0.000000 23 -0.1589 -0.1589
- 0.000000 24 0.2379 0.2379
- 0.000000 25 0.1246 0.1246
- 0.000000 26 -0.0916 -0.0916
- 0.000000 27 -0.2175 -0.2175
- 0.000000 28 0.1238 0.1238
- 0.000000 29 0.1339 0.1339
- 0.000000 30 1.2686 1.2686
- 0.000000 31 0.0008 0.0008
- 0.000000 32 -0.0777 -0.0777
- 0.000000 33 0.0008 0.0008
- 0.000000 34 1.1233 1.1233
- 0.000000 35 0.0031 0.0031
- 0.000000 36 -0.0777 -0.0777
- 0.000000 37 0.0031 0.0031
- 0.000000 38 2.5446 2.5446
- 0.005000 0 0.3287 0.3287
- 0.005000 1 0.2323 0.2323
- 0.005000 2 0.1100 0.1100
- 0.005000 3 -0.3587 -0.3587
- 0.005000 4 0.3367 0.3367
- 0.005000 5 0.0181 0.0181
- 0.005000 6 -0.2232 -0.2232
- 0.005000 7 -0.3296 -0.3296
- 0.005000 8 0.1699 0.1699
- 0.005000 9 0.2908 0.2908
- 0.005000 10 -0.3585 -0.3585
- 0.005000 11 0.0690 0.0690
- 0.005000 12 0.3444 0.3444
- 0.005000 13 0.2895 0.2895
- 0.005000 14 -0.0237 -0.0237
- 0.005000 15 -0.3163 -0.3163
- 0.005000 16 0.1948 0.1948
- 0.005000 17 -0.1722 -0.1722
- 0.005000 18 -0.3261 -0.3261
- 0.005000 19 -0.3198 -0.3198
- 0.005000 20 -0.0941 -0.0941
- 0.005000 21 0.2273 0.2273
- 0.005000 22 -0.2878 -0.2878
- 0.005000 23 -0.1523 -0.1523
- 0.005000 24 0.2355 0.2355
- 0.005000 25 0.1149 0.1149
- 0.005000 26 -0.0652 -0.0652
- 0.005000 27 -0.2023 -0.2023
- 0.005000 28 0.1276 0.1276
- 0.005000 29 0.1406 0.1406
- 0.005000 30 1.2983 1.2983
- 0.005000 31 0.0074 0.0074
- 0.005000 32 -0.0442 -0.0442
- 0.005000 33 0.0074 0.0074
- 0.005000 34 1.0616 1.0616
- 0.005000 35 0.0049 0.0049
- 0.005000 36 -0.0442 -0.0442
- 0.005000 37 0.0049 0.0049
- 0.005000 38 2.4949 2.4949
- 0.010000 0 0.3057 0.3057
- 0.010000 1 0.2219 0.2219
- 0.010000 2 0.1123 0.1123
- 0.010000 3 -0.3610 -0.3610
- 0.010000 4 0.3207 0.3207
- 0.010000 5 0.0249 0.0249
- 0.010000 6 -0.2431 -0.2431
- 0.010000 7 -0.3227 -0.3227
- 0.010000 8 0.1861 0.1861
- 0.010000 9 0.3110 0.3110
- 0.010000 10 -0.3230 -0.3230
- 0.010000 11 0.0536 0.0536
- 0.010000 12 0.3321 0.3321
- 0.010000 13 0.2460 0.2460
- 0.010000 14 -0.0204 -0.0204
- 0.010000 15 -0.3035 -0.3035
- 0.010000 16 0.1750 0.1750
- 0.010000 17 -0.1895 -0.1895
- 0.010000 18 -0.3215 -0.3215
- 0.010000 19 -0.3011 -0.3011
- 0.010000 20 -0.0991 -0.0991
- 0.010000 21 0.2342 0.2342
- 0.010000 22 -0.2677 -0.2677
- 0.010000 23 -0.1512 -0.1512
- 0.010000 24 0.2325 0.2325
- 0.010000 25 0.1200 0.1200
- 0.010000 26 -0.0458 -0.0458
- 0.010000 27 -0.1864 -0.1864
- 0.010000 28 0.1309 0.1309
- 0.010000 29 0.1290 0.1290
- 0.010000 30 1.3546 1.3546
- 0.010000 31 -0.0010 -0.0010
- 0.010000 32 -0.0324 -0.0324
- 0.010000 33 -0.0010 -0.0010
- 0.010000 34 0.9469 0.9469
- 0.010000 35 0.0118 0.0118
- 0.010000 36 -0.0324 -0.0324
- 0.010000 37 0.0118 0.0118
- 0.010000 38 2.4485 2.4485
- 0.015000 0 0.2784 0.2784
- 0.015000 1 0.2040 0.2040
- 0.015000 2 0.0909 0.0909
- 0.015000 3 -0.3455 -0.3455
- 0.015000 4 0.2867 0.2867
- 0.015000 5 0.0230 0.0230
- 0.015000 6 -0.2596 -0.2596
- 0.015000 7 -0.3044 -0.3044
- 0.015000 8 0.2036 0.2036
- 0.015000 9 0.3216 0.3216
- 0.015000 10 -0.2752 -0.2752
- 0.015000 11 0.0411 0.0411
- 0.015000 12 0.3142 0.3142
- 0.015000 13 0.1924 0.1924
- 0.015000 14 -0.0163 -0.0163
- 0.015000 15 -0.2939 -0.2939
- 0.015000 16 0.1585 0.1585
- 0.015000 17 -0.2068 -0.2068
- 0.015000 18 -0.3090 -0.3090
- 0.015000 19 -0.2674 -0.2674
- 0.015000 20 -0.0777 -0.0777
- 0.015000 21 0.2317 0.2317
- 0.015000 22 -0.2560 -0.2560
- 0.015000 23 -0.1327 -0.1327
- 0.015000 24 0.2310 0.2310
- 0.015000 25 0.1252 0.1252
- 0.015000 26 -0.0350 -0.0350
- 0.015000 27 -0.1689 -0.1689
- 0.015000 28 0.1363 0.1363
- 0.015000 29 0.1099 0.1099
- 0.015000 30 1.3937 1.3937
- 0.015000 31 -0.0040 -0.0040
- 0.015000 32 -0.0365 -0.0365
- 0.015000 33 -0.0040 -0.0040
- 0.015000 34 0.8269 0.8269
- 0.015000 35 -0.0103 -0.0103
- 0.015000 36 -0.0365 -0.0365
- 0.015000 37 -0.0103 -0.0103
- 0.015000 38 2.3510 2.3510
- 0.020000 0 0.2666 0.2666
- 0.020000 1 0.1869 0.1869
- 0.020000 2 0.0703 0.0703
- 0.020000 3 -0.3255 -0.3255
- 0.020000 4 0.2692 0.2692
- 0.020000 5 0.0102 0.0102
- 0.020000 6 -0.2645 -0.2645
- 0.020000 7 -0.2835 -0.2835
- 0.020000 8 0.2141 0.2141
- 0.020000 9 0.3166 0.3166
- 0.020000 10 -0.2635 -0.2635
- 0.020000 11 0.0653 0.0653
- 0.020000 12 0.3024 0.3024
- 0.020000 13 0.1976 0.1976
- 0.020000 14 -0.0355 -0.0355
- 0.020000 15 -0.2931 -0.2931
- 0.020000 16 0.1405 0.1405
- 0.020000 17 -0.2155 -0.2155
- 0.020000 18 -0.2977 -0.2977
- 0.020000 19 -0.2589 -0.2589
- 0.020000 20 -0.0579 -0.0579
- 0.020000 21 0.2223 0.2223
- 0.020000 22 -0.2595 -0.2595
- 0.020000 23 -0.1251 -0.1251
- 0.020000 24 0.2263 0.2263
- 0.020000 25 0.1348 0.1348
- 0.020000 26 -0.0242 -0.0242
- 0.020000 27 -0.1535 -0.1535
- 0.020000 28 0.1365 0.1365
- 0.020000 29 0.0982 0.0982
- 0.020000 30 1.3942 1.3942
- 0.020000 31 0.0116 0.0116
- 0.020000 32 -0.0319 -0.0319
- 0.020000 33 0.0116 0.0116
- 0.020000 34 0.8066 0.8066
- 0.020000 35 -0.0388 -0.0388
- 0.020000 36 -0.0319 -0.0319
- 0.020000 37 -0.0388 -0.0388
- 0.020000 38 2.2840 2.2840
+ 0.000000 0 0.2576 0.2576
+ 0.000000 1 0.1784 0.1784
+ 0.000000 2 0.1148 0.1148
+ 0.000000 3 -0.2848 -0.2848
+ 0.000000 4 0.2573 0.2573
+ 0.000000 5 0.0311 0.0311
+ 0.000000 6 -0.1602 -0.1602
+ 0.000000 7 -0.2576 -0.2576
+ 0.000000 8 0.1443 0.1443
+ 0.000000 9 0.2195 0.2195
+ 0.000000 10 -0.2827 -0.2827
+ 0.000000 11 0.0801 0.0801
+ 0.000000 12 0.2542 0.2542
+ 0.000000 13 0.2204 0.2204
+ 0.000000 14 -0.0389 -0.0389
+ 0.000000 15 -0.2562 -0.2562
+ 0.000000 16 0.1441 0.1441
+ 0.000000 17 -0.1263 -0.1263
+ 0.000000 18 -0.2496 -0.2496
+ 0.000000 19 -0.2380 -0.2380
+ 0.000000 20 -0.0968 -0.0968
+ 0.000000 21 0.1800 0.1800
+ 0.000000 22 -0.2248 -0.2248
+ 0.000000 23 -0.1502 -0.1502
+ 0.000000 24 0.2051 0.2051
+ 0.000000 25 0.0951 0.0951
+ 0.000000 26 -0.0616 -0.0616
+ 0.000000 27 -0.1656 -0.1656
+ 0.000000 28 0.1078 0.1078
+ 0.000000 29 0.1035 0.1035
+ 0.000000 30 0.9771 0.9771
+ 0.000000 31 -0.0025 -0.0025
+ 0.000000 32 -0.0434 -0.0434
+ 0.000000 33 -0.0025 -0.0025
+ 0.000000 34 0.8416 0.8416
+ 0.000000 35 0.0170 0.0170
+ 0.000000 36 -0.0434 -0.0434
+ 0.000000 37 0.0170 0.0170
+ 0.000000 38 2.5110 2.5110
+ 0.005000 0 0.2556 0.2556
+ 0.005000 1 0.1841 0.1841
+ 0.005000 2 0.1225 0.1225
+ 0.005000 3 -0.3096 -0.3096
+ 0.005000 4 0.2536 0.2536
+ 0.005000 5 0.0116 0.0116
+ 0.005000 6 -0.1518 -0.1518
+ 0.005000 7 -0.2632 -0.2632
+ 0.005000 8 0.1297 0.1297
+ 0.005000 9 0.2044 0.2044
+ 0.005000 10 -0.2823 -0.2823
+ 0.005000 11 0.0947 0.0947
+ 0.005000 12 0.2620 0.2620
+ 0.005000 13 0.1952 0.1952
+ 0.005000 14 -0.0426 -0.0426
+ 0.005000 15 -0.2497 -0.2497
+ 0.005000 16 0.1184 0.1184
+ 0.005000 17 -0.1320 -0.1320
+ 0.005000 18 -0.2566 -0.2566
+ 0.005000 19 -0.2169 -0.2169
+ 0.005000 20 -0.1139 -0.1139
+ 0.005000 21 0.1797 0.1797
+ 0.005000 22 -0.1888 -0.1888
+ 0.005000 23 -0.1530 -0.1530
+ 0.005000 24 0.2132 0.2132
+ 0.005000 25 0.0817 0.0817
+ 0.005000 26 -0.0227 -0.0227
+ 0.005000 27 -0.1472 -0.1472
+ 0.005000 28 0.1180 0.1180
+ 0.005000 29 0.1056 0.1056
+ 0.005000 30 1.0253 1.0253
+ 0.005000 31 0.0065 0.0065
+ 0.005000 32 0.0105 0.0105
+ 0.005000 33 0.0065 0.0065
+ 0.005000 34 0.7862 0.7862
+ 0.005000 35 0.0302 0.0302
+ 0.005000 36 0.0105 0.0105
+ 0.005000 37 0.0302 0.0302
+ 0.005000 38 2.4682 2.4682
+ 0.010000 0 0.2377 0.2377
+ 0.010000 1 0.1684 0.1684
+ 0.010000 2 0.1429 0.1429
+ 0.010000 3 -0.3273 -0.3273
+ 0.010000 4 0.2339 0.2339
+ 0.010000 5 0.0073 0.0073
+ 0.010000 6 -0.1809 -0.1809
+ 0.010000 7 -0.2617 -0.2617
+ 0.010000 8 0.1499 0.1499
+ 0.010000 9 0.2401 0.2401
+ 0.010000 10 -0.2325 -0.2325
+ 0.010000 11 0.0678 0.0678
+ 0.010000 12 0.2520 0.2520
+ 0.010000 13 0.1286 0.1286
+ 0.010000 14 -0.0378 -0.0378
+ 0.010000 15 -0.2463 -0.2463
+ 0.010000 16 0.0987 0.0987
+ 0.010000 17 -0.1384 -0.1384
+ 0.010000 18 -0.2558 -0.2558
+ 0.010000 19 -0.1817 -0.1817
+ 0.010000 20 -0.1166 -0.1166
+ 0.010000 21 0.1873 0.1873
+ 0.010000 22 -0.1756 -0.1756
+ 0.010000 23 -0.1491 -0.1491
+ 0.010000 24 0.2139 0.2139
+ 0.010000 25 0.0968 0.0968
+ 0.010000 26 -0.0203 -0.0203
+ 0.010000 27 -0.1205 -0.1205
+ 0.010000 28 0.1250 0.1250
+ 0.010000 29 0.0945 0.0945
+ 0.010000 30 1.1005 1.1005
+ 0.010000 31 -0.0026 -0.0026
+ 0.010000 32 0.0195 0.0195
+ 0.010000 33 -0.0026 -0.0026
+ 0.010000 34 0.6764 0.6764
+ 0.010000 35 0.0390 0.0390
+ 0.010000 36 0.0195 0.0195
+ 0.010000 37 0.0390 0.0390
+ 0.010000 38 2.4056 2.4056
+ 0.015000 0 0.2201 0.2201
+ 0.015000 1 0.1468 0.1468
+ 0.015000 2 0.1232 0.1232
+ 0.015000 3 -0.3255 -0.3255
+ 0.015000 4 0.1931 0.1931
+ 0.015000 5 -0.0015 -0.0015
+ 0.015000 6 -0.2162 -0.2162
+ 0.015000 7 -0.2551 -0.2551
+ 0.015000 8 0.1767 0.1767
+ 0.015000 9 0.2721 0.2721
+ 0.015000 10 -0.1773 -0.1773
+ 0.015000 11 0.0444 0.0444
+ 0.015000 12 0.2404 0.2404
+ 0.015000 13 0.0659 0.0659
+ 0.015000 14 -0.0348 -0.0348
+ 0.015000 15 -0.2492 -0.2492
+ 0.015000 16 0.0911 0.0911
+ 0.015000 17 -0.1519 -0.1519
+ 0.015000 18 -0.2516 -0.2516
+ 0.015000 19 -0.1356 -0.1356
+ 0.015000 20 -0.0847 -0.0847
+ 0.015000 21 0.1922 0.1922
+ 0.015000 22 -0.1733 -0.1733
+ 0.015000 23 -0.1152 -0.1152
+ 0.015000 24 0.2141 0.2141
+ 0.015000 25 0.1112 0.1112
+ 0.015000 26 -0.0339 -0.0339
+ 0.015000 27 -0.0963 -0.0963
+ 0.015000 28 0.1333 0.1333
+ 0.015000 29 0.0776 0.0776
+ 0.015000 30 1.1799 1.1799
+ 0.015000 31 -0.0010 -0.0010
+ 0.015000 32 -0.0029 -0.0029
+ 0.015000 33 -0.0010 -0.0010
+ 0.015000 34 0.5770 0.5770
+ 0.015000 35 -0.0037 -0.0037
+ 0.015000 36 -0.0029 -0.0029
+ 0.015000 37 -0.0037 -0.0037
+ 0.015000 38 2.2992 2.2992
+ 0.020000 0 0.2204 0.2204
+ 0.020000 1 0.1243 0.1243
+ 0.020000 2 0.0996 0.0996
+ 0.020000 3 -0.3153 -0.3153
+ 0.020000 4 0.1757 0.1757
+ 0.020000 5 -0.0146 -0.0146
+ 0.020000 6 -0.2366 -0.2366
+ 0.020000 7 -0.2451 -0.2451
+ 0.020000 8 0.1915 0.1915
+ 0.020000 9 0.2832 0.2832
+ 0.020000 10 -0.1666 -0.1666
+ 0.020000 11 0.0758 0.0758
+ 0.020000 12 0.2393 0.2393
+ 0.020000 13 0.0789 0.0789
+ 0.020000 14 -0.0617 -0.0617
+ 0.020000 15 -0.2540 -0.2540
+ 0.020000 16 0.0820 0.0820
+ 0.020000 17 -0.1645 -0.1645
+ 0.020000 18 -0.2546 -0.2546
+ 0.020000 19 -0.1308 -0.1308
+ 0.020000 20 -0.0623 -0.0623
+ 0.020000 21 0.1886 0.1886
+ 0.020000 22 -0.1836 -0.1836
+ 0.020000 23 -0.1014 -0.1014
+ 0.020000 24 0.2077 0.2077
+ 0.020000 25 0.1270 0.1270
+ 0.020000 26 -0.0371 -0.0371
+ 0.020000 27 -0.0787 -0.0787
+ 0.020000 28 0.1383 0.1383
+ 0.020000 29 0.0747 0.0747
+ 0.020000 30 1.2233 1.2233
+ 0.020000 31 0.0214 0.0214
+ 0.020000 32 -0.0092 -0.0092
+ 0.020000 33 0.0214 0.0214
+ 0.020000 34 0.5735 0.5735
+ 0.020000 35 -0.0503 -0.0503
+ 0.020000 36 -0.0092 -0.0092
+ 0.020000 37 -0.0503 -0.0503
+ 0.020000 38 2.2551 2.2551
diff --git a/regtest/multicolvar/rt-coordination-powers/plumed.dat b/regtest/multicolvar/rt-coordination-powers/plumed.dat
index ec3e4821ca5de2b98285b66e9ea0dad56959f3c9..74f3664294456c84bafa9c9fff4c13cba25a89f8 100644
--- a/regtest/multicolvar/rt-coordination-powers/plumed.dat
+++ b/regtest/multicolvar/rt-coordination-powers/plumed.dat
@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@
-COORDINATIONNUMBER SPECIES=1-10 R_0=1 R_POWER=2 LABEL=c1 MEAN
-COORDINATIONNUMBER SPECIES=1-10 R_0=1 NUMERICAL_DERIVATIVES R_POWER=2 LABEL=c1num MEAN
+COORDINATIONNUMBER SPECIES=1-10 R_0=1 R_POWER=3 LABEL=c1 MEAN
+COORDINATIONNUMBER SPECIES=1-10 R_0=1 NUMERICAL_DERIVATIVES R_POWER=3 LABEL=c1num MEAN
DUMPDERIVATIVES ARG=c1.*,c1num.* STRIDE=1 FILE=derivatives FMT=%8.4f
diff --git a/src/multicolvar/CoordinationNumbers.cpp b/src/multicolvar/CoordinationNumbers.cpp
index abbf9e6f2c5a2328d080705ffe97b7171b131b0f..973ecb497c71c8630f2c87d72a38ddb62a5e6502 100644
--- a/src/multicolvar/CoordinationNumbers.cpp
+++ b/src/multicolvar/CoordinationNumbers.cpp
@@ -170,8 +170,8 @@ double CoordinationNumbers::compute( const unsigned& tindex, AtomValuePack& myat
if(r_power > 0) {
d = sqrt(d2); raised = pow( d, r_power - 1 );
accumulateSymmetryFunction( 1, i, sw * raised * d,
- (dfunc * d * raised + sw * r_power) * distance,
- (-dfunc * d * raised - sw * r_power) * Tensor(distance, distance),
+ (dfunc * d * raised + sw * r_power * raised / d) * distance,
+ (-dfunc * d * raised - sw * r_power * raised / d) * Tensor(distance, distance),
myatoms );
} else {
accumulateSymmetryFunction( 1, i, sw, (dfunc)*distance, (-dfunc)*Tensor(distance,distance), myatoms );