diff --git a/lib/github_changelog_generator/parser_file.rb b/lib/github_changelog_generator/parser_file.rb
index d08ddfe..ec7ee2b 100644
--- a/lib/github_changelog_generator/parser_file.rb
+++ b/lib/github_changelog_generator/parser_file.rb
@@ -7,11 +7,13 @@ module GitHubChangelogGenerator
   # given Hash.
   #
   # In your project's root, you can put a file named
-  # <tt>.github_changelog_generator</tt> to override defaults:
+  # <tt>.github_changelog_generator</tt> to override defaults.
   #
   # Example:
   #   header_label=# My Super Changelog
+  #   ; Comments are allowed
   #   future-release=5.0.0
+  #   # Ruby-style comments, too
   #   since-tag=1.0.0
   #
   # The configuration format is <tt>some-key=value</tt> or <tt>some_key=value</tt>.
@@ -41,12 +43,18 @@ module GitHubChangelogGenerator
     end
 
     def parse_line!(line, line_number)
+      return if non_configuration_line?(line)
       option_name, value = extract_pair(line)
       @options[option_key_for(option_name)] = convert_value(value, option_name)
     rescue
       raise ParserError, "Failed on line ##{line_number}: \"#{line.gsub(/[\n\r]+/, '')}\""
     end
 
+    # Returns true if the line starts with a pound sign or a semi-colon.
+    def non_configuration_line?(line)
+      line =~ /^[\#;]/
+    end
+
     # Returns a the option name as a symbol and its string value sans newlines.
     #
     # @param line [String] unparsed line from config file
diff --git a/spec/unit/parse_file_spec.rb b/spec/unit/parse_file_spec.rb
index 735f32e..65ff5a2 100644
--- a/spec/unit/parse_file_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/unit/parse_file_spec.rb
@@ -26,6 +26,14 @@ describe GitHubChangelogGenerator::ParserFile do
       it { expect { parser.parse! }.to raise_error(/line #2/) }
     end
 
+    context "allows comments with semi-colon or pound sign" do
+      let(:file) { StringIO.new("# Comment on first line\nunreleased_label=staging\n; Comment on third line\nunreleased=false") }
+      let(:parser) do
+        GitHubChangelogGenerator::ParserFile.new({}, file)
+      end
+      it { expect { parser.parse! }.not_to raise_error }
+    end
+
     context "when override default values" do
       let(:default_options) { GitHubChangelogGenerator::Parser.default_options }
       let(:options) { {}.merge(default_options) }