diff --git a/src/juniper_lib/CompilerDriver_junosacl.cpp b/src/juniper_lib/CompilerDriver_junosacl.cpp
index 9478cc17b..3136c9ccb 100644
--- a/src/juniper_lib/CompilerDriver_junosacl.cpp
+++ b/src/juniper_lib/CompilerDriver_junosacl.cpp
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ string fs_separator = "/";
 CompilerDriver_junosacl::CompilerDriver_junosacl(FWObjectDatabase *db) :
     CompilerDriver(db)
 {
+    comment_symbol = "#";
 }
 
 // create a copy of itself, including objdb
diff --git a/src/juniper_lib/CompilerDriver_junosacl.h b/src/juniper_lib/CompilerDriver_junosacl.h
index f528cda61..e3c6a912d 100644
--- a/src/juniper_lib/CompilerDriver_junosacl.h
+++ b/src/juniper_lib/CompilerDriver_junosacl.h
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ namespace fwcompiler {
 protected:
     std::string system_configuration_script;
     std::string policy_script;
+    std::string comment_symbol;
 
     void printProlog(QTextStream &file, const std::string &prolog_code);
 
diff --git a/src/juniper_lib/CompilerDriver_junosacl_run.cpp b/src/juniper_lib/CompilerDriver_junosacl_run.cpp
index 8f14defcb..5a3dc43ee 100644
--- a/src/juniper_lib/CompilerDriver_junosacl_run.cpp
+++ b/src/juniper_lib/CompilerDriver_junosacl_run.cpp
@@ -72,7 +72,8 @@ QString CompilerDriver_junosacl::assembleFwScript(Cluster *cluster,
     options->setStr("prolog_place", "");
 
     assembleFwScriptInternal(cluster, fw, cluster_member,
-                             oscnf, &script_skeleton, &top_comment, "!", true);
+                             oscnf, &script_skeleton, &top_comment,
+                             QString::fromStdString(comment_symbol), true);
     return script_skeleton.expand();
 }