diff --git a/utilities/chem.py b/utilities/chem.py
index 6b3f7cea..fae01903 100644
--- a/utilities/chem.py
+++ b/utilities/chem.py
@@ -682,7 +682,10 @@ class IndigoUtils(object):
         i.setOption("render-image-size", width, height)
         i.setOption("render-bond-line-width", 2.0)
 
-        mol = i.loadMolecule(mol_data)
+        if '~' in mol_data:
+            mol = i.loadSmarts(mol_data)
+        else:
+            mol = i.loadMolecule(mol_data)
 
         if len(functional_groups.keys()) > 0:
             IndigoUtils._colorize(i, mol, functional_groups, False)