diff --git a/interfaces/cython/cantera/ck2cti.py b/interfaces/cython/cantera/ck2cti.py
index 214780ce0..4aa289320 100644
--- a/interfaces/cython/cantera/ck2cti.py
+++ b/interfaces/cython/cantera/ck2cti.py
@@ -955,6 +955,37 @@ class Parser(object):
         else:
             note = ''
 
+        # Normal method for specifying the elemental composition
+        composition = self.parseComposition(lines[0][24:44], 4, 5)
+
+        # Chemkin-style extended elemental composition: additional lines
+        # indicated by '&' continuation character on preceding lines. Element
+        # names and abundances are separated by whitespace (not fixed width)
+        if lines[0].rstrip().endswith('&'):
+            complines = []
+            for i in range(len(lines)-1):
+                if lines[i].rstrip().endswith('&'):
+                    complines.append(lines[i+1])
+                else:
+                    break
+            lines = [lines[0]] + lines[i+1:]
+            comp = ' '.join(line.rstrip('&\n') for line in complines).split()
+            composition = {}
+            for i in range(0, len(comp), 2):
+                composition[comp[i].capitalize()] = int(comp[i+1])
+
+        # Non-standard extended elemental composition data may be located beyond
+        # column 80 on the first line of the thermo entry
+        if len(lines[0]) > 80:
+            elements = lines[0][80:]
+            composition2 = self.parseComposition(elements, len(elements)//10, 10)
+            composition.update(composition2)
+
+        if not composition:
+            raise InputParseError("Error parsing elemental composition for "
+                                  "species '{0}'".format(species))
+
+
         # Extract the NASA polynomial coefficients
         # Remember that the high-T polynomial comes first!
         Tmin = fortFloat(lines[0][45:55])
@@ -978,19 +1009,6 @@ class Parser(object):
             coeffs_high = coeffs_low
 
 
-        composition = self.parseComposition(lines[0][24:44], 4, 5)
-
-        # Non-standard extended elemental composition data may be located beyond
-        # column 80 on the first line of the thermo entry
-        if len(lines[0]) > 80:
-            elements = lines[0][80:]
-            composition2 = self.parseComposition(elements, len(elements)//10, 10)
-            composition.update(composition2)
-
-        if not composition:
-            raise InputParseError("Error parsing elemental composition for "
-                                  "species '{0}'".format(species))
-
 
         # Construct and return the thermodynamics model
         thermo = MultiNASA(
@@ -1614,6 +1632,9 @@ class Parser(object):
 
                                 thermo = []
                                 current = []
+                        elif thermo and thermo[-1].rstrip().endswith('&'):
+                            # Include Chemkin-style extended elemental composition
+                            thermo.append(line)
                         line, comment = readline()
 
                 elif tokens[0].upper().startswith('REAC'):
diff --git a/test/data/soot-therm.dat b/test/data/soot-therm.dat
index f4169da37..d328bfb73 100644
--- a/test/data/soot-therm.dat
+++ b/test/data/soot-therm.dat
@@ -36,11 +36,14 @@ BIN5       PYRENE       C   0H   0    0    0G   300.000  5000.000 1401.000    01
  3.65839677E+01 3.36764102E-02-1.16783938E-05 1.83077466E-09-1.06963777E-13    2
  9.29809483E+03-1.81272070E+02-1.29758980E+01 1.63790064E-01-1.43851166E-04    3
  6.31057915E-08-1.09568047E-11 2.48866399E+04 7.94950474E+01                   4
-BIN6J      PYRENEJ1     C   0H   0    0    0G   300.000  5000.000 1401.000    01C      778H      263
+BIN6J      PYRENEJ1     C   0H   0    0    0G   300.000  5000.000 1401.000    01&
+C 778    H 263
  3.63345177E+01 3.13968020E-02-1.09044660E-05 1.71125597E-09-1.00056355E-13    2
  4.05143093E+04-1.77494305E+02-1.20603441E+01 1.59247554E-01-1.41562602E-04    3
  6.26071650E-08-1.09305161E-11 5.56473533E+04 7.68451211E+01                   4
-BIN6       PYRENE       C   0H   0    0    0G   300.000  5000.000 1401.000    01C      778H      264
+BIN6       PYRENE       C   0H   0    0    0G   300.000  5000.000 1401.000    01&
+C      778&
+H      264
  3.65839677E+01 3.36764102E-02-1.16783938E-05 1.83077466E-09-1.06963777E-13    2
  9.29809483E+03-1.81272070E+02-1.29758980E+01 1.63790064E-01-1.43851166E-04    3
  6.31057915E-08-1.09568047E-11 2.48866399E+04 7.94950474E+01                   4