diff --git a/graphite_beacon/alerts.py b/graphite_beacon/alerts.py
index dce3483..2e6d693 100644
--- a/graphite_beacon/alerts.py
+++ b/graphite_beacon/alerts.py
@@ -241,7 +241,7 @@ def configure(self, **options):
         self.default_nan_value = options.get(
             'default_nan_value', self.reactor.options['default_nan_value'])
         self.ignore_nan = options.get('ignore_nan', self.reactor.options['ignore_nan'])
-        method_tokens = self.method.split(maxsplit=1)
+        method_tokens = self.method.split(' ', 1)
         assert method_tokens[0] in METHODS, "Method is invalid"
         if method_tokens[0] == 'percentile':
             try:
@@ -301,7 +301,7 @@ def _graphite_url(self, query, raw_data=False, graphite_url=None):
         return url
 
     def _get_record_attr(self, record):
-        method_tokens = self.method.split()
+        method_tokens = self.method.split(' ', 1)
         if method_tokens[0] == 'percentile':
             return record.percentile(float(method_tokens[1]))
         else: