diff --git a/src/nmreval/io/asciireader.py b/src/nmreval/io/asciireader.py
index 979c560..c10c158 100644
--- a/src/nmreval/io/asciireader.py
+++ b/src/nmreval/io/asciireader.py
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 import pathlib
 import re
+from io import BytesIO
 from itertools import islice
 
 import numpy as np
@@ -99,7 +100,10 @@ class AsciiReader:
             y = list(range(1, max(self.width)))
 
         cols = x + y + yerr
-        raw_data = np.genfromtxt(self.fname, usecols=cols, missing_values='--')
+        with self.fname.open('rb') as fh:
+            tmp_ = re.sub(b'[;,]', b' ', fh.read())
+        raw_data = np.genfromtxt(BytesIO(tmp_), usecols=cols, missing_values='--')
+        del tmp_
         if raw_data.ndim == 1:
             # only one row or column
             if len(self.data) == 1: