diff --git a/src/earthkit/workflows/_qubed.py b/src/earthkit/workflows/_qubed.py
index dc0e163e..ba999f38 100644
--- a/src/earthkit/workflows/_qubed.py
+++ b/src/earthkit/workflows/_qubed.py
@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@ def expand_fn(action: "Action", qube: "Qube", path: str) -> "Action":
         """Recursively expand the action based on the qube structure."""
         if not qube.key == "root":  # Skip the root key
             # Expand along the current qube's key and values
-            action = action.expand((qube.key, list(qube.values)), (qube.key, list(qube.values)))
+            action = action.expand((qube.key, list(qube.values)), (qube.key, list(qube.values)), backend_kwargs={"method": "sel"})
 
         match len(qube.children):
             case 0: