diff --git a/nipype/interfaces/diffusion_toolkit/dti.py b/nipype/interfaces/diffusion_toolkit/dti.py
index 8881c109a1..436b8cd027 100644
--- a/nipype/interfaces/diffusion_toolkit/dti.py
+++ b/nipype/interfaces/diffusion_toolkit/dti.py
@@ -103,18 +103,9 @@ def _create_gradient_matrix(self, bvecs_file, bvals_file):
         with open(bvals_file) as fbvals:
             bvals = [val for val in re.split('\s+', fbvals.readline().strip())]
         with open(bvecs_file) as fbvecs:
-            bvecs_y = [
-                val for val in re.split('\s+',
-                                        fbvecs.readline().strip())
-            ]
-            bvecs_z = [
-                val for val in re.split('\s+',
-                                        fbvecs.readline().strip())
-            ]
-            bvecs_x = [
-                val for val in re.split('\s+',
-                                        fbvecs.readline().strip())
-            ]
+          bvecs_x = fbvecs.readline().split()
+          bvecs_y = fbvecs.readline().split()
+          bvecs_z = fbvecs.readline().split()
 
         with open(_gradient_matrix_file, 'w') as gradient_matrix_f:
             for i in range(len(bvals)):