diff --git a/src/icartt/dataset.py b/src/icartt/dataset.py
index ffd0a3226b168c3f4a994349b784568e8389b911..afac9fde663f12c39599cb2f62f0614db5836183 100644
--- a/src/icartt/dataset.py
+++ b/src/icartt/dataset.py
@@ -216,7 +216,7 @@ class StandardNormalComments(collections.UserList):
     def nlines(self):
         n = 1 # shortnames line, and keywords might be multiline...
         n += len(self.freeform)
-        n += sum(len(k.data) or 1 for k in self.keywords.values())
+        n += sum(len(k.data[0].split("\n")) or 1 for k in self.keywords.values())
         # was: len(self.freeform) + 1 + sum([len(k.data) for k in self.keywords.values()])
         return n