diff --git a/ivas_processing_scripts/processing/evs.py b/ivas_processing_scripts/processing/evs.py
index 605e61df869564f85aab6141ef9b6b60a35daad5..d70e15aecd6397502e9847ab2409adae3703c1d6 100755
--- a/ivas_processing_scripts/processing/evs.py
+++ b/ivas_processing_scripts/processing/evs.py
@@ -290,13 +290,15 @@ class EVS(Processing):
         # in case of LFE 9.6 kbps NB processing strip any "-max_band XX" from cmd.extend and amend by "-max_band NB"
         if proc_chan_lfe_9k6bps_nb is True:
             if self.cod_opts:
-                cod_opts = self.cod_opts
+                cod_opts = self.cod_opts.copy()
                 # for finding index of max_band entry use lower case version
                 cod_opts_lower = [x.lower() for x in self.cod_opts]
                 if "-max_band" in cod_opts_lower:
                     idx_max_band = cod_opts_lower.index("-max_band")
                     # use original version and not lower case version due to possible paths in there
                     cod_opts[idx_max_band + 1] = "NB"
+                else:
+                    cod_opts.extend(["-max_band", "NB"])
             else:
                 cod_opts = ["-max_band", "NB"]
         else: