diff --git a/ipi_tests/regression_tests/tests/PLUMED/METAD.NOAUTO/files_to_check.txt b/ipi_tests/regression_tests/tests/PLUMED/METAD.NOAUTO/files_to_check.txt
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..f7b13cabc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ipi_tests/regression_tests/tests/PLUMED/METAD.NOAUTO/files_to_check.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+        filename                        format
+----------------------------------------------------------
+ref_simulation.frc_c.xyz                  xyz
+ref_simulation.pos_c.xyz                  xyz
+ref_simulation.out                       numpy
+ref_COLVAR                               numpy
+ref_HILLS                                numpy
diff --git a/ipi_tests/regression_tests/tests/PLUMED/METAD.NOAUTO/init.xyz b/ipi_tests/regression_tests/tests/PLUMED/METAD.NOAUTO/init.xyz
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..f83ff8622
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ipi_tests/regression_tests/tests/PLUMED/METAD.NOAUTO/init.xyz
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+3
+#
+ O   0.54044984       -0.97485007       -0.21657970 
+ H   0.18385954       -1.25804198       -1.07875142 
+ H   0.04233158       -0.19485993        0.09228101
diff --git a/ipi_tests/regression_tests/tests/PLUMED/METAD.NOAUTO/input.xml b/ipi_tests/regression_tests/tests/PLUMED/METAD.NOAUTO/input.xml
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..6fc1650cf
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ipi_tests/regression_tests/tests/PLUMED/METAD.NOAUTO/input.xml
@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+<simulation mode="static" verbosity="medium">
+   <output prefix='simulation'>
+    <properties stride='1' filename='out'>  [ step, potential{electronvolt}] </properties>
+    <trajectory stride="20" filename="pos_c" format="xyz"> x_centroid </trajectory>
+    <trajectory stride="20" filename="frc_c" format="xyz"> f_centroid </trajectory>
+   </output>
+   <total_steps> 100 </total_steps>
+   <ffsocket name="pswater" mode="unix">
+       <address> localhost </address> 
+   </ffsocket>
+   <ffplumed name="plumed">
+       <file mode="xyz">./init.xyz</file>
+       <plumeddat> plumed.dat </plumeddat>
+   </ffplumed>
+   <system >
+       <initialize nbeads='1'> 
+           <file mode='xyz' units='angstrom'>init.xyz</file>
+           <cell> [   25.29166, 0, 0, 0, 25.29166, 0, 0, 0, 25.29166 ] </cell>
+       </initialize>
+       <forces>
+          <force forcefield="pswater"> </force>
+       </forces>
+       <ensemble>
+         <temperature units="kelvin"> 300.0 </temperature>
+         <bias>
+            <force forcefield="plumed" nbeads="1"></force>
+         </bias>
+      </ensemble>
+      <motion mode="dynamics">
+        <dynamics mode="nvt">
+           <timestep units="femtosecond"> 0.5 </timestep>
+           <thermostat mode="langevin">
+               <tau units="femtosecond"> 5 </tau>
+           </thermostat>
+        </dynamics>   
+     </motion>
+    </system>
+    <smotion mode="metad">
+      <metad> <metaff> [ plumed ] </metaff> </metad>
+    </smotion>       
+</simulation>
diff --git a/ipi_tests/regression_tests/tests/PLUMED/METAD.NOAUTO/plumed.dat b/ipi_tests/regression_tests/tests/PLUMED/METAD.NOAUTO/plumed.dat
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..11a76a906
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ipi_tests/regression_tests/tests/PLUMED/METAD.NOAUTO/plumed.dat
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+# default units are LENGTH=nm ENERGY=kJ/mol TIME=ps
+dhh: DISTANCE ATOMS=2,3 
+METAD ARG=dhh PACE=10 SIGMA=0.01 HEIGHT=20 FILE=HILLS BIASFACTOR=10 TEMP=300 LABEL=metad
+
+PRINT ARG=dhh,metad.* STRIDE=5 FILE=COLVAR
+FLUSH STRIDE=1
+
diff --git a/ipi_tests/regression_tests/tests/PLUMED/METAD.NOAUTO/ref_COLVAR b/ipi_tests/regression_tests/tests/PLUMED/METAD.NOAUTO/ref_COLVAR
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..2fce1768a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ipi_tests/regression_tests/tests/PLUMED/METAD.NOAUTO/ref_COLVAR
@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+#! FIELDS time dhh rest.bias rest.force2
+ 0.000097 0.184331 215.623573 43124714.631938
+ 0.000194 0.220153 44.540998 8908199.552153
+ 0.000290 0.228350 23.437102 4687420.313194
+ 0.000387 0.208506 86.087415 17217483.027251
+ 0.000484 0.186316 202.783446 40556689.120482
+ 0.000581 0.195882 146.437129 29287425.761376
+ 0.000677 0.214331 63.613732 12722746.423567
+ 0.000774 0.219615 46.161372 9232274.453717
+ 0.000871 0.209151 83.431772 16686354.439035
+ 0.000968 0.193753 158.186674 31637334.717337
+ 0.001064 0.189815 181.114349 36222869.853859
+ 0.001161 0.201878 115.787834 23157566.814556
+ 0.001258 0.213007 68.424614 13684922.701663
+ 0.001355 0.213897 65.169567 13033913.399078
+ 0.001451 0.206660 93.918793 18783758.690671
+ 0.001548 0.194784 152.440133 30488026.631448
+ 0.001645 0.199688 126.563246 25312649.262310
+ 0.001742 0.205663 98.287587 19657517.347279
+ 0.001838 0.206943 92.697079 18539415.792061
+ 0.001935 0.203886 106.323087 21264617.450864
+ 0.002032 0.200653 121.758531 24351706.255268
+ 0.002129 0.197283 138.953307 27790661.446668
+ 0.002225 0.200037 124.813581 24962716.130805
+ 0.002322 0.205228 100.224485 20044897.099738
+ 0.002419 0.202661 112.047234 22409446.836354
diff --git a/ipi_tests/regression_tests/tests/PLUMED/METAD.NOAUTO/ref_HILLS b/ipi_tests/regression_tests/tests/PLUMED/METAD.NOAUTO/ref_HILLS
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..05a6f60c8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ipi_tests/regression_tests/tests/PLUMED/METAD.NOAUTO/ref_HILLS
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+#! FIELDS time dhh sigma_dhh height biasf
+#! SET multivariate false
+#! SET kerneltype stretched-gaussian
+          0.00024188843     0.1549211771444685                   0.01      22.22222222222222                     10
+          0.00048377686     0.1394657546721228                   0.01      16.98682245697788                     10
+  0.0007256652899999999     0.1454511453378886                   0.01      7.125139405924957                     10
+          0.00096755372     0.1474917194020225                   0.01      5.220447499489441                     10
+          0.00120944215     0.1596346790688307                   0.01       7.47862865628175                     10
+          0.00145133058     0.1741707468887148                   0.01      17.27051083233874                     10
+          0.00169321901     0.1689106642077213                   0.01      6.846063239044688                     10
+          0.00193510744     0.1582870349379482                   0.01      3.506897910172468                     10
+          0.00217699587     0.1552386764037809                   0.01      2.873548060189675                     10
+           0.0024188843     0.1469124424133807                   0.01      3.065518757280203                     10
diff --git a/ipi_tests/regression_tests/tests/PLUMED/METAD.NOAUTO/ref_simulation.frc_c.xyz b/ipi_tests/regression_tests/tests/PLUMED/METAD.NOAUTO/ref_simulation.frc_c.xyz
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..67b8244e1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ipi_tests/regression_tests/tests/PLUMED/METAD.NOAUTO/ref_simulation.frc_c.xyz
@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+3
+# CELL(abcABC):   25.29166    25.29166    25.29166    90.00000    90.00000    90.00000  Step:           0  Bead:       0 f_centroid{atomic_unit}  cell{atomic_unit}
+       O -7.34145e-03  4.55046e-03 -4.38801e-03
+       H  1.78151e-03  1.10616e-02  1.67248e-02
+       H  5.55994e-03 -1.56120e-02 -1.23368e-02
+3
+# CELL(abcABC):   25.29166    25.29166    25.29166    90.00000    90.00000    90.00000  Step:          20  Bead:       0 f_centroid{atomic_unit}  cell{atomic_unit}
+       O  2.04865e-02  1.00551e-02  5.68341e-02
+       H -1.43933e-02 -2.82911e-02 -7.13938e-02
+       H -6.09325e-03  1.82360e-02  1.45598e-02
+3
+# CELL(abcABC):   25.29166    25.29166    25.29166    90.00000    90.00000    90.00000  Step:          40  Bead:       0 f_centroid{atomic_unit}  cell{atomic_unit}
+       O -1.09557e-02  2.67334e-02  2.84741e-02
+       H -4.25606e-03 -9.31289e-03 -2.86912e-02
+       H  1.52117e-02 -1.74205e-02  2.17115e-04
+3
+# CELL(abcABC):   25.29166    25.29166    25.29166    90.00000    90.00000    90.00000  Step:          60  Bead:       0 f_centroid{atomic_unit}  cell{atomic_unit}
+       O  1.12574e-02 -3.23849e-03  2.05735e-02
+       H -1.33301e-02  2.38665e-02  2.02790e-02
+       H  2.07268e-03 -2.06280e-02 -4.08526e-02
+3
+# CELL(abcABC):   25.29166    25.29166    25.29166    90.00000    90.00000    90.00000  Step:          80  Bead:       0 f_centroid{atomic_unit}  cell{atomic_unit}
+       O  2.84007e-02 -2.16826e-02 -9.32255e-03
+       H -7.58183e-03  8.33039e-03  7.00661e-03
+       H -2.08188e-02  1.33522e-02  2.31594e-03
+3
+# CELL(abcABC):   25.29166    25.29166    25.29166    90.00000    90.00000    90.00000  Step:         100  Bead:       0 f_centroid{atomic_unit}  cell{atomic_unit}
+       O  2.62025e-02  5.94171e-03  2.12597e-02
+       H -1.98991e-02 -1.35334e-02 -3.10173e-02
+       H -6.30340e-03  7.59173e-03  9.75759e-03
diff --git a/ipi_tests/regression_tests/tests/PLUMED/METAD.NOAUTO/ref_simulation.out b/ipi_tests/regression_tests/tests/PLUMED/METAD.NOAUTO/ref_simulation.out
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..de4641aff
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ipi_tests/regression_tests/tests/PLUMED/METAD.NOAUTO/ref_simulation.out
@@ -0,0 +1,103 @@
+# column   1     --> step : The current simulation time step.
+# column   2     --> potential{electronvolt} : The physical system potential energy.
+    0.00000000e+00     3.25615492e-02   
+    1.00000000e+00     3.05942306e-02   
+    2.00000000e+00     1.90266342e-02   
+    3.00000000e+00     1.60349367e-02   
+    4.00000000e+00     1.52102454e-02   
+    5.00000000e+00     1.16190191e-02   
+    6.00000000e+00     8.99753647e-03   
+    7.00000000e+00     9.92540584e-03   
+    8.00000000e+00     1.09996699e-02   
+    9.00000000e+00     1.37685499e-02   
+    1.00000000e+01     2.03824115e-02   
+    1.10000000e+01     2.19904857e-02   
+    1.20000000e+01     3.13668080e-02   
+    1.30000000e+01     3.56232697e-02   
+    1.40000000e+01     4.07015682e-02   
+    1.50000000e+01     3.87624398e-02   
+    1.60000000e+01     3.39657627e-02   
+    1.70000000e+01     3.12618976e-02   
+    1.80000000e+01     5.31161653e-02   
+    1.90000000e+01     9.30897356e-02   
+    2.00000000e+01     1.48443319e-01   
+    2.10000000e+01     1.82447607e-01   
+    2.20000000e+01     1.99778411e-01   
+    2.30000000e+01     1.53434717e-01   
+    2.40000000e+01     1.11334565e-01   
+    2.50000000e+01     9.44743014e-02   
+    2.60000000e+01     8.63339633e-02   
+    2.70000000e+01     9.89848969e-02   
+    2.80000000e+01     1.15389799e-01   
+    2.90000000e+01     1.33264521e-01   
+    3.00000000e+01     1.53550763e-01   
+    3.10000000e+01     1.58555449e-01   
+    3.20000000e+01     1.45407875e-01   
+    3.30000000e+01     1.11832557e-01   
+    3.40000000e+01     6.96386353e-02   
+    3.50000000e+01     4.98040694e-02   
+    3.60000000e+01     4.46158799e-02   
+    3.70000000e+01     4.14674186e-02   
+    3.80000000e+01     5.13758622e-02   
+    3.90000000e+01     5.02454311e-02   
+    4.00000000e+01     4.42007214e-02   
+    4.10000000e+01     3.03349953e-02   
+    4.20000000e+01     2.22119743e-02   
+    4.30000000e+01     1.96984157e-02   
+    4.40000000e+01     1.53411228e-02   
+    4.50000000e+01     6.76754736e-03   
+    4.60000000e+01     2.05692781e-03   
+    4.70000000e+01     9.49065538e-03   
+    4.80000000e+01     2.57424651e-02   
+    4.90000000e+01     4.63702011e-02   
+    5.00000000e+01     8.56131263e-02   
+    5.10000000e+01     1.33869652e-01   
+    5.20000000e+01     1.73296390e-01   
+    5.30000000e+01     2.16419862e-01   
+    5.40000000e+01     2.66309619e-01   
+    5.50000000e+01     3.12196361e-01   
+    5.60000000e+01     3.56906979e-01   
+    5.70000000e+01     3.73472078e-01   
+    5.80000000e+01     3.74903373e-01   
+    5.90000000e+01     3.45201037e-01   
+    6.00000000e+01     3.01063563e-01   
+    6.10000000e+01     2.62155829e-01   
+    6.20000000e+01     2.52925857e-01   
+    6.30000000e+01     2.62247359e-01   
+    6.40000000e+01     2.72768890e-01   
+    6.50000000e+01     2.43283647e-01   
+    6.60000000e+01     2.03077954e-01   
+    6.70000000e+01     1.73664217e-01   
+    6.80000000e+01     1.60316301e-01   
+    6.90000000e+01     1.74235312e-01   
+    7.00000000e+01     1.81924340e-01   
+    7.10000000e+01     1.88066099e-01   
+    7.20000000e+01     1.77388023e-01   
+    7.30000000e+01     1.61295958e-01   
+    7.40000000e+01     1.23943021e-01   
+    7.50000000e+01     9.52850083e-02   
+    7.60000000e+01     7.26735367e-02   
+    7.70000000e+01     5.56024676e-02   
+    7.80000000e+01     5.61907770e-02   
+    7.90000000e+01     6.29617648e-02   
+    8.00000000e+01     6.10287178e-02   
+    8.10000000e+01     4.77398529e-02   
+    8.20000000e+01     4.18901067e-02   
+    8.30000000e+01     3.88649041e-02   
+    8.40000000e+01     3.53958012e-02   
+    8.50000000e+01     3.27962946e-02   
+    8.60000000e+01     2.61455439e-02   
+    8.70000000e+01     1.87766372e-02   
+    8.80000000e+01     1.63194487e-02   
+    8.90000000e+01     1.59238243e-02   
+    9.00000000e+01     1.75766792e-02   
+    9.10000000e+01     1.53648955e-02   
+    9.20000000e+01     1.18353549e-02   
+    9.30000000e+01     1.11498261e-02   
+    9.40000000e+01     9.14632639e-03   
+    9.50000000e+01     7.65257671e-03   
+    9.60000000e+01     3.14646759e-03   
+    9.70000000e+01     7.82098849e-05   
+    9.80000000e+01     6.72651225e-03   
+    9.90000000e+01     2.59993981e-02   
+    1.00000000e+02     3.79665209e-02   
diff --git a/ipi_tests/regression_tests/tests/PLUMED/METAD.NOAUTO/ref_simulation.pos_c.xyz b/ipi_tests/regression_tests/tests/PLUMED/METAD.NOAUTO/ref_simulation.pos_c.xyz
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..cdd8e154f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ipi_tests/regression_tests/tests/PLUMED/METAD.NOAUTO/ref_simulation.pos_c.xyz
@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+3
+# CELL(abcABC):   25.29166    25.29166    25.29166    90.00000    90.00000    90.00000  Step:           0  Bead:       0 x_centroid{atomic_unit}  cell{atomic_unit}
+       O  1.02130e+00 -1.84220e+00 -4.09276e-01
+       H  3.47444e-01 -2.37735e+00 -2.03854e+00
+       H  7.99951e-02 -3.68232e-01  1.74386e-01
+3
+# CELL(abcABC):   25.29166    25.29166    25.29166    90.00000    90.00000    90.00000  Step:          20  Bead:       0 x_centroid{atomic_unit}  cell{atomic_unit}
+       O  1.01254e+00 -1.85116e+00 -3.91895e-01
+       H  5.16678e-01 -2.23293e+00 -1.97266e+00
+       H  4.98084e-02 -3.70389e-01 -1.67402e-01
+3
+# CELL(abcABC):   25.29166    25.29166    25.29166    90.00000    90.00000    90.00000  Step:          40  Bead:       0 x_centroid{atomic_unit}  cell{atomic_unit}
+       O  1.01837e+00 -1.85650e+00 -3.99305e-01
+       H  5.23818e-01 -2.11575e+00 -2.07253e+00
+       H -4.98662e-02 -4.02909e-01  5.00906e-02
+3
+# CELL(abcABC):   25.29166    25.29166    25.29166    90.00000    90.00000    90.00000  Step:          60  Bead:       0 x_centroid{atomic_unit}  cell{atomic_unit}
+       O  9.96930e-01 -1.84402e+00 -4.25966e-01
+       H  6.26121e-01 -2.22185e+00 -2.18335e+00
+       H  1.88189e-01 -4.94871e-01  5.84100e-01
+3
+# CELL(abcABC):   25.29166    25.29166    25.29166    90.00000    90.00000    90.00000  Step:          80  Bead:       0 x_centroid{atomic_unit}  cell{atomic_unit}
+       O  1.02806e+00 -1.82535e+00 -4.31273e-01
+       H  2.98306e-01 -2.29676e+00 -2.01974e+00
+       H  2.18604e-02 -7.16337e-01  5.04750e-01
+3
+# CELL(abcABC):   25.29166    25.29166    25.29166    90.00000    90.00000    90.00000  Step:         100  Bead:       0 x_centroid{atomic_unit}  cell{atomic_unit}
+       O  1.05015e+00 -1.81115e+00 -4.51024e-01
+       H  5.14127e-02 -2.35120e+00 -1.77831e+00
+       H -8.18111e-02 -8.87253e-01  5.76822e-01
diff --git a/ipi_tests/regression_tests/tests/PLUMED/METAD.NOAUTO/test_settings.dat b/ipi_tests/regression_tests/tests/PLUMED/METAD.NOAUTO/test_settings.dat
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..be0a0f064
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ipi_tests/regression_tests/tests/PLUMED/METAD.NOAUTO/test_settings.dat
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+driver_model pswater  
+address localhost
+port 32342 
+socket_mode unix