diff --git a/src/modules/autoseed.c b/src/modules/autoseed.c
index ffab4ca46..66013149c 100644
--- a/src/modules/autoseed.c
+++ b/src/modules/autoseed.c
@@ -157,9 +157,13 @@ newfaction *read_newfactions(const char *filename)
         password[0] = '\0';
 
         if (sscanf(buf, "%54s %20s %8s %d %d %16s %d", email, race, lang, &bonus,
-            &subscription, password, &alliance) < 3)
+            &subscription, password, &alliance) < 3) {
             break;
-        if (email[0] == '\0')
+	}
+	if (email[0] == '#') {
+            continue;
+        }
+	if (email[0] == '\0')
             break;
         if (password[0] == '\0') {
             size_t sz;