diff --git a/sparrow.php b/sparrow.php
index dbe4a2f..da8f32f 100644
--- a/sparrow.php
+++ b/sparrow.php
@@ -161,7 +161,8 @@ protected function parseCondition($field, $value = null, $join = '', $escape = t
         if (is_string($field)) {
             if ($value === null) return $join.' '.trim($field);
 
-            list($field, $operator) = explode(' ', $field);
+            if (strpos($field, ' '))
+                list($field, $operator) = explode(' ', $field);
 
             if (!empty($operator)) {
                 switch ($operator) {