diff --git a/plugins/removeComments.js b/plugins/removeComments.js
index e46eea8e..55c38589 100644
--- a/plugins/removeComments.js
+++ b/plugins/removeComments.js
@@ -13,6 +13,8 @@
  */
 exports.removeComments = function(item, params) {
 
-    return !item.comment;
+    if (item.comment && item.comment.charAt(0) !== '!') {
+        return false;
+    }
 
 };
diff --git a/test/plugins/removeComments.02.orig.svg b/test/plugins/removeComments.02.orig.svg
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..9b16fa67
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/plugins/removeComments.02.orig.svg
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+<!--!ignored comment-->
+<svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg">
+    test
+</svg>
diff --git a/test/plugins/removeComments.02.should.svg b/test/plugins/removeComments.02.should.svg
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..9b16fa67
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/plugins/removeComments.02.should.svg
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+<!--!ignored comment-->
+<svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg">
+    test
+</svg>