diff --git a/lib/galaxy/tools/parameters/validation.py b/lib/galaxy/tools/parameters/validation.py
index 3a43a8c47f1..81c7cca5776 100644
--- a/lib/galaxy/tools/parameters/validation.py
+++ b/lib/galaxy/tools/parameters/validation.py
@@ -235,18 +235,17 @@ class MetadataInFileColumnValidator( Validator ):
             metadata_name = metadata_name.strip()
         metadata_column = int( elem.get( "metadata_column", 0 ) )
         message = elem.get( "message", "Value for metadata %s was not found in %s." % ( metadata_name, filename ) )
-        split = elem.get( "split", None )
         line_startswith = elem.get( "line_startswith", None  )
         if line_startswith:
             line_startswith = line_startswith.strip()
-        return cls( filename, metadata_name, metadata_column, message, split, line_startswith )
-    def __init__( self, filename, metadata_name, metadata_column, message="Value for metadata not found.", split=None, line_startswith=None ):
+        return cls( filename, metadata_name, metadata_column, message, line_startswith )
+    def __init__( self, filename, metadata_name, metadata_column, message="Value for metadata not found.", line_startswith=None ):
         self.metadata_name = metadata_name
         self.message = message
         self.valid_values = []
         for line in open( filename ):
             if line_startswith is None or line.startswith( line_startswith ):
-                fields = line.split( split )
+                fields = line.split( '\t' )
                 if metadata_column < len( fields ):
                     self.valid_values.append( fields[metadata_column] )
     def validate( self, value, history = None ):
diff --git a/tools/extract/extract_genomic_dna.xml b/tools/extract/extract_genomic_dna.xml
index 1f8f1a47d2f..f30e18de90b 100644
--- a/tools/extract/extract_genomic_dna.xml
+++ b/tools/extract/extract_genomic_dna.xml
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
   <inputs>
     <param format="interval" name="input" type="data" label="Fetch sequences corresponding to Query">
       <validator type="unspecified_build" />
-      <validator type="dataset_metadata_in_file" filename="alignseq.loc" metadata_name="dbkey" metadata_column="1" message="Sequences are not currently available for the specified build." split="\t" line_startswith="seq" />
+      <validator type="dataset_metadata_in_file" filename="alignseq.loc" metadata_name="dbkey" metadata_column="1" message="Sequences are not currently available for the specified build." line_startswith="seq" />
     </param>
 	<param name="out_format" type="select" label="Output data type">
 	<option value="fasta">FASTA</option>