diff --git a/bin/mrdna b/bin/mrdna
index 852f39b2b190ef338c539dd7171432be78087768..4e603d799b228d7aeab86bcf6ce8fec9685981ce 100755
--- a/bin/mrdna
+++ b/bin/mrdna
@@ -100,6 +100,8 @@ def main():
         from mrdna.readers import read_vhelix as read_model
     elif extension == '.pdb':
         from mrdna.readers import read_atomic_pdb as read_model
+    elif extension == '.dat' or extension == '.txt':
+        from mrdna.readers import read_list as read_model
     else:
         raise Exception("Unrecognized input file '{}'".format(infile))
     model = read_model( str(infile), debye_length=args.debye_length, temperature=args.temperature )