diff --git a/astroquery/jplspec/lookup_table.py b/astroquery/jplspec/lookup_table.py
index 27a2501690..40bdd2a091 100644
--- a/astroquery/jplspec/lookup_table.py
+++ b/astroquery/jplspec/lookup_table.py
@@ -22,10 +22,13 @@ def find(self, s, flags):
 
         Returns
         -------
-        The list of values corresponding to the matches
+        The dictionary containing only values whose keys match the regex
 
         """
 
+        if s in self:
+            return {s: self[s]}
+
         R = re.compile(s, flags)
 
         out = {}
diff --git a/astroquery/linelists/cdms/core.py b/astroquery/linelists/cdms/core.py
index 8ebe9496ab..1b892609dd 100644
--- a/astroquery/linelists/cdms/core.py
+++ b/astroquery/linelists/cdms/core.py
@@ -375,10 +375,13 @@ def find(self, st, flags):
 
         Returns
         -------
-        The list of values corresponding to the matches
+        The dictionary containing only values whose keys match the regex
 
         """
 
+        if st in self:
+            return {st: self[st]}
+
         out = {}
 
         for kk, vv in self.items():