diff --git a/src/fileio.f90 b/src/fileio.f90
index 758634a600..48205a3f82 100644
--- a/src/fileio.f90
+++ b/src/fileio.f90
@@ -79,11 +79,10 @@ contains
     integer, intent(in)  :: n_lines ! number of lines to skip
     integer, intent(out) :: ioError ! error status 
 
-    integer                 :: i   ! index for number of lines
-    character(MAX_LINE_LEN) :: tmp ! single line
+    integer :: i   ! index for number of lines
 
     do i = 1, n_lines
-       read(UNIT=unit, FMT='(A)', IOSTAT=ioError) tmp
+       read(UNIT=unit, FMT=*, IOSTAT=ioError)
     end do
 
   end subroutine skip_lines