diff --git a/common/file.c b/common/file.c
index 811e71fa..b796f5b0 100644
--- a/common/file.c
+++ b/common/file.c
@@ -138,7 +138,7 @@ file_read_ini_line(struct stream *s, char *text, int text_bytes)
     while (c != 10 && c != 13)
     {
         /* these mean skip the rest of the line */
-        if (c == '#' || c == '!' || c == ';')
+        if (c == '#' || c == ';')
         {
             skip_to_end = 1;
         }