diff --git a/CHANGES/v2.4.md b/CHANGES/v2.4.md
index 40cdd1d4d6a04f94c3bb63dba9e5a6a4d4fc9e40..284ebf66d09337061d4deea4c570c3ac613000cf 100644
--- a/CHANGES/v2.4.md
+++ b/CHANGES/v2.4.md
@@ -214,3 +214,12 @@ For developers:
   - All fixed done in version 2.3.8
   - CPPCHECK updated to 1.85
 
+## Version 2.4.5 (to be released)
+
+For users:
+  - Fixed an inconsistency in parsing of braces.
+    It is now possible to pass individual options
+    including spaces (e.g. with `FILE={/path with space/file}`). Notice 
+    that this invalidates syntax such as `ATOMS={1}{2}{3}{4}`. See more
+    at \issue{434}.
+
diff --git a/src/tools/Tools.cpp b/src/tools/Tools.cpp
index a33a0d6ab6dafb3ad8932a31ea96aa3d16783422..2ce1c37312d8f264bca4ed69c5f8475177c63567 100644
--- a/src/tools/Tools.cpp
+++ b/src/tools/Tools.cpp
@@ -145,7 +145,7 @@ vector<string> Tools::getWords(const string & line,const char* separators,int *
     if(parenthesisLevel==0) for(unsigned j=0; j<sep.length(); j++) if(line[i]==sep[j]) found=true;
 // If at parenthesis level zero (outer)
     if(!(parenthesisLevel==0 && (found||onParenthesis))) word.push_back(line[i]);
-    if(onParenthesis) word.push_back(' ');
+    //if(onParenthesis) word.push_back(' ');
     if(line[i]==openpar) parenthesisLevel++;
     if(found && word.length()>0) {
       if(!parlevel) plumed_massert(parenthesisLevel==0,"Unmatching parenthesis in '" + line + "'");