diff --git a/NuRadioMC/simulation/simulation.py b/NuRadioMC/simulation/simulation.py
index 42a1d19fa..2732e38bb 100644
--- a/NuRadioMC/simulation/simulation.py
+++ b/NuRadioMC/simulation/simulation.py
@@ -99,6 +99,8 @@ class simulation:
     def __init__(self, inputfilename,
                  outputfilename,
                  detectorfile,
+                 det=None,
+                 det_kwargs={},
                  outputfilenameNuRadioReco=None,
                  debug=False,
                  evt_time=datetime.datetime(2018, 1, 1),
@@ -124,6 +126,10 @@ def __init__(self, inputfilename,
             specify hdf5 output filename.
         detectorfile: string
             path to the json file containing the detector description
+        det: detector object
+            Pass a detector class object
+        det_kwargs: dict
+            Pass arguments to the detector (only used when det == None)
         station_id: int
             the station id for which the simulation is performed. Must match a station
             deself._fined in the detector description
@@ -157,8 +163,9 @@ def __init__(self, inputfilename,
             allows to specify a custom ice model. This model is used if the config file specifies the ice model as "custom".
         """
         logger.setLevel(log_level)
-        if 'write_mode' in kwargs.keys():
+        if 'write_mode' in kwargs:
             logger.warning('Parameter write_mode is deprecated. Define the output format in the config file instead.')
+
         self._log_level = log_level
         self._log_level_ray_propagation = log_level_propagation
         config_file_default = os.path.join(os.path.dirname(__file__), 'config_default.yaml')
@@ -212,19 +219,15 @@ def __init__(self, inputfilename,
         self._mout_groups = collections.OrderedDict()
         self._mout_attrs = collections.OrderedDict()
 
-        # read in detector positions
-        logger.status("Detectorfile {}".format(os.path.abspath(self._detectorfile)))
-        self._det = None
-        if default_detector_station is not None:
-            logger.warning(
-                'Deprecation warning: Passing the default detector station is deprecated. Default stations and default'
-                'channel should be specified in the detector description directly.'
-            )
-            logger.status(f"Default detector station provided (station {default_detector_station}) -> Using generic detector")
-            self._det = gdetector.GenericDetector(json_filename=self._detectorfile, default_station=default_detector_station,
-                                                 default_channel=default_detector_channel, antenna_by_depth=False)
+        # Initialize detector
+        if det is None:
+            logger.status("Detectorfile {}".format(os.path.abspath(self._detectorfile)))
+            kwargs = dict(json_filename=self._detectorfile, default_station=default_detector_station,
+                              default_channel=default_detector_channel, antenna_by_depth=False)
+            kwargs.update(det_kwargs)
+            self._det = detector.Detector(**kwargs)
         else:
-            self._det = detector.Detector(json_filename=self._detectorfile, antenna_by_depth=False)
+            self._det = det
 
         self._det.update(evt_time)
 
@@ -851,7 +854,7 @@ def run(self):
                 self._station = NuRadioReco.framework.station.Station(self._station_id)
                 self._station.set_sim_station(self._sim_station)
                 self._station.get_sim_station().set_station_time(self._evt_time)
-                
+
                 # convert efields to voltages at digitizer
                 if hasattr(self, '_detector_simulation_part1'):
                     # we give the user the opportunity to define a custom detector simulation
diff --git a/NuRadioReco/detector/detector.py b/NuRadioReco/detector/detector.py
index 883a46b76..c2e311720 100644
--- a/NuRadioReco/detector/detector.py
+++ b/NuRadioReco/detector/detector.py
@@ -1,8 +1,12 @@
+import json
+import os
+import numpy as np
+import logging
+
 import NuRadioReco.detector.detector_base
 import NuRadioReco.detector.generic_detector
 import NuRadioReco.detector.RNO_G.rnog_detector
-import json
-import os
+
 
 
 def find_path(name):
@@ -137,7 +141,17 @@ def Detector(*args, **kwargs):
         if source == 'json':
             f.close()
 
-        if has_reference_entry:
+        has_default = np.any([arg in kwargs and kwargs[arg] is not None for arg in ["default_station", "default_channel", "default_device"]])
+
+        if has_reference_entry or has_default:
+            if has_default:
+                logging.warning(
+                    'Deprecation warning: Passing the default detector station is deprecated. Default stations and default'
+                    'channel should be specified in the detector description directly.')
+
+                if "default_station" in kwargs:
+                    logging.status(f'Default detector station provided (station {kwargs["default_station"]}) -> Using generic detector')
+
             return NuRadioReco.detector.generic_detector.GenericDetector(
                 json_filename=filename, source=source, dictionary=dictionary,
                 assume_inf=assume_inf, antenna_by_depth=antenna_by_depth, **kwargs)