diff --git a/fail2ban/client/configparserinc.py b/fail2ban/client/configparserinc.py
index 679fcecc..7519e599 100644
--- a/fail2ban/client/configparserinc.py
+++ b/fail2ban/client/configparserinc.py
@@ -100,6 +100,7 @@ after = 1.conf
 		def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
 			kwargs = kwargs.copy()
 			kwargs['interpolation'] = BasicInterpolationWithName()
+			kwargs['inline_comment_prefixes'] = ";"
 			super(SafeConfigParserWithIncludes, self).__init__(
 				*args, **kwargs)
 
diff --git a/fail2ban/tests/clientreadertestcase.py b/fail2ban/tests/clientreadertestcase.py
index d45efb46..7b88d029 100644
--- a/fail2ban/tests/clientreadertestcase.py
+++ b/fail2ban/tests/clientreadertestcase.py
@@ -131,6 +131,18 @@ z = 3%(__name__)s
 		self.assertEqual(self.c.get('section', 'zz'), 'thesection') # __name__ works even 'delayed'
 		self.assertEqual(self.c.get('section2', 'z'), '3section2') # and differs per section ;)
 
+	def testComments(self):
+		self.assertFalse(self.c.read('g'))	# nothing is there yet
+		self._write("g.conf", value=None, content="""
+[DEFAULT]
+# A comment
+b = a
+c = d ;in line comment
+""")
+		self.assertTrue(self.c.read('g'))
+		self.assertEqual(self.c.get('DEFAULT', 'b'), 'a')
+		self.assertEqual(self.c.get('DEFAULT', 'c'), 'd')
+
 class JailReaderTest(unittest.TestCase):
 
 	def testIncorrectJail(self):