diff --git a/paynt/quotient/pomdp.py b/paynt/quotient/pomdp.py
index f3a4c0e6a..a5541693b 100644
--- a/paynt/quotient/pomdp.py
+++ b/paynt/quotient/pomdp.py
@@ -217,11 +217,7 @@ def set_memory_from_result_new(self, obs_memory_dict, obs_memory_dict_cutoff, me
 
     
     def create_coloring(self):
-
-        # short aliases
-        pm = self.pomdp_manager
-        pomdp = self.pomdp
-        mdp = self.quotient_mdp
+        logger.debug("creating coloring ...")
 
         # create holes
         all_holes = paynt.family.family.Family()
@@ -235,7 +231,7 @@ def create_coloring(self):
             hole_indices = []
             num_actions = self.actions_at_observation[obs]
             if num_actions > 1:
-                option_labels = [str(labels) for labels in self.action_labels_at_observation[obs]]
+                option_labels = self.action_labels_at_observation[obs]
                 for mem in range(self.observation_memory_size[obs]):
                     hole_indices.append(all_holes.num_holes)
                     name = self.create_hole_name(obs,mem,True)
@@ -245,7 +241,7 @@ def create_coloring(self):
 
             # memory holes
             hole_indices = []
-            num_updates = pm.max_successor_memory_size[obs]
+            num_updates = self.pomdp_manager.max_successor_memory_size[obs]
             if num_updates > 1:
                 option_labels = [str(x) for x in range(num_updates)]
                 for mem in range(self.observation_memory_size[obs]):
@@ -256,15 +252,20 @@ def create_coloring(self):
             self.observation_memory_holes.append(hole_indices)
 
         # create the coloring
+        assert self.pomdp_manager.num_holes == all_holes.num_holes
+        row_action_hole = self.pomdp_manager.row_action_hole
+        row_memory_hole = self.pomdp_manager.row_memory_hole
+        row_action_option = self.pomdp_manager.row_action_option
+        row_memory_option = self.pomdp_manager.row_memory_option
         choice_to_hole_options = []
-        for action in range(mdp.nr_choices):
+        for action in range(self.quotient_mdp.nr_choices):
             hole_options = []
-            h = pm.row_action_hole[action]
-            if h != pm.num_holes:
-                hole_options.append( (h,pm.row_action_option[action]) )
-            h = pm.row_memory_hole[action]
-            if h != pm.num_holes:
-                hole_options.append( (h,pm.row_memory_option[action]) )
+            hole = row_action_hole[action]
+            if hole != all_holes.num_holes:
+                hole_options.append( (hole,row_action_option[action]) )
+            hole = row_memory_hole[action]
+            if hole != all_holes.num_holes:
+                hole_options.append( (hole,row_memory_option[action]) )
             choice_to_hole_options.append(hole_options)
 
         return all_holes, choice_to_hole_options