diff --git a/interfaces/python/ck2cti.py b/interfaces/python/ck2cti.py
index 6ae0da007..9416f779a 100755
--- a/interfaces/python/ck2cti.py
+++ b/interfaces/python/ck2cti.py
@@ -809,11 +809,12 @@ def fortFloat(s):
     return float(s)
 
 def isnumberlike(text):
-    """ Returns true if `text` contains only the digits 0-9 and '.' """
-    for char in text:
-        if not char.isdigit() and char != '.':
-            return False
-    return True
+    """ Returns true if `text` can be interpreted as a floating point number. """
+    try:
+        float(text)
+        return True
+    except ValueError:
+        return False
 
 def get_index(seq, value):
     """
@@ -1070,10 +1071,10 @@ class Parser(object):
 
             for term in expression.split('+'):
                 term = term.strip()
-                if isnumberlike(term[0]):
+                if term[0].isdigit() or term[0] == '.':
                     # This allows for for non-unity stoichiometric coefficients, e.g.
                     # 2A=B+C or .85A+.15B=>C
-                    j = [i for i,c in enumerate(term) if not isnumberlike(c)][0]
+                    j = [i for i in range(len(term)) if isnumberlike(term[:i])][-1]
                     if term[:j].isdigit():
                         stoichiometry = int(term[:j])
                     else:
diff --git a/test/data/soot.inp b/test/data/soot.inp
index e7a6712b2..681426312 100644
--- a/test/data/soot.inp
+++ b/test/data/soot.inp
@@ -14,10 +14,10 @@ END
 !
 !
 REACTIONS
-C6H5+BIN5=>.9846153846BIN5+.0153846154BIN6+    1.0769H2+H             .562E+13    .500        .0    
+C6H5+BIN5=>.9846153846BIN5+1.53846154E-2BIN6+  1.0769H2+H             .562E+13    .500        .0    
 A1C2HJ2+BIN5=>.9794871795BIN5+.0205128205BIN6+     .7692H2+H          .510E+13    .500        .0    
 C10H7J1+BIN5=>.9743589744BIN5+.0256410256BIN6+    1.4615H2+H          .472E+13    .500        .0    
-C10H7J2+BIN5=>.9743589744BIN5+.0256410256BIN6+    1.4615H2+H          .472E+13    .500        .0    
+C10H7J2+BIN5=>9.743589744E-1BIN5+.0256410256BIN6+ 1.4615H2+H          .472E+13    .500        .0    
 A2CH2-1+BIN5=>.9717948718BIN5+.0282051282BIN6+    2.3077H2+H          .456E+13    .500        .0    
 A2CH2-2+BIN5=>.9717948718BIN5+.0282051282BIN6+    2.3077H2+H          .456E+13    .500        .0    
-END
\ No newline at end of file
+END