diff --git a/port-jobs/COMMENTS.py b/port-jobs/COMMENTS.py
index 1890576..cdfd2e1 100755
--- a/port-jobs/COMMENTS.py
+++ b/port-jobs/COMMENTS.py
@@ -13,12 +13,17 @@ for filename in listdir('working'):
         # read input file
         with open(filepath, 'r') as file:
             new_file = []
+            first_line = True
             for line in file:
                 # determine whether to remove all or only PORT comments
-                if len(arguments) > 0 and arguments[0] == 'ALL':
-                    if not rematch(r'^\s*#', line):
-                        new_file.append(line)
-                elif not rematch(r'^\s*# PORT', line):
+                if first_line:
                     new_file.append(line)
+                    first_line = False
+                else:
+                    if len(arguments) > 0 and arguments[0] == 'ALL':
+                        if not rematch(r'^\s*#', line):
+                            new_file.append(line)
+                    elif not rematch(r'^\s*# PORT', line):
+                        new_file.append(line)
         # write the updated file contents
         open(filepath, 'w').writelines(new_file)