diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index b5353bc..a6b88c8 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -194,6 +194,8 @@ docker run --name postgresql -itd \
 
 The above command enables the `unaccent` and `pg_trgm` modules on the databases listed in `DB_NAME`, namely `db1` and `db2`.
 
+Each comma separated field can contain whitespace, allowing you to set arbitrary options (such as `CASCADE` ). For full syntax, refer official documentation about [CREATE EXTENSION](https://www.postgresql.org/docs/current/sql-createextension.html).
+
 > **NOTE**:
 >
 > This option deprecates the `DB_UNACCENT` parameter.
diff --git a/runtime/functions b/runtime/functions
index f6e7042..818cae1 100755
--- a/runtime/functions
+++ b/runtime/functions
@@ -318,10 +318,13 @@ load_extensions() {
     psql -U ${PG_USER} -d ${database} -c "CREATE EXTENSION IF NOT EXISTS unaccent;" >/dev/null 2>&1
   fi
 
-  for extension in $(awk -F',' '{for (i = 1 ; i <= NF ; i++) print $i}' <<< "${DB_EXTENSION}"); do
+  local IFS_ORG=$IFS
+  IFS=,
+  for extension in ${DB_EXTENSION}; do
     echo "‣ Loading ${extension} extension..."
     psql -U ${PG_USER} -d ${database} -c "CREATE EXTENSION IF NOT EXISTS ${extension};" >/dev/null 2>&1
   done
+  IFS=$IFS_ORG
 }
 
 create_database() {
@@ -331,7 +334,9 @@ create_database() {
         echo "INFO! Database cannot be created on a $REPLICATION_MODE node. Skipping..."
         ;;
       *)
-        for database in $(awk -F',' '{for (i = 1 ; i <= NF ; i++) print $i}' <<< "${DB_NAME}"); do
+        local IFS_ORG=$IFS
+        IFS=,
+        for database in ${DB_NAME}; do
           echo "Creating database: ${database}..."
           if [[ -z $(psql -U ${PG_USER} -Atc "SELECT 1 FROM pg_catalog.pg_database WHERE datname = '${database}'";) ]]; then
             psql -U ${PG_USER} -c "CREATE DATABASE \"${database}\" WITH TEMPLATE = \"${DB_TEMPLATE}\";" >/dev/null
@@ -344,6 +349,7 @@ create_database() {
             psql -U ${PG_USER} -c "GRANT ALL PRIVILEGES ON DATABASE \"${database}\" to \"${DB_USER}\";" >/dev/null
           fi
         done
+        IFS=$IFS_ORG
         ;;
     esac
   fi