diff --git a/tconfpy.py b/tconfpy.py
index f9a3a0a..cef9438 100755
--- a/tconfpy.py
+++ b/tconfpy.py
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
 # Program Information
 
 PROGNAME = "tconfpy"
-RCSID = "$Id: tconfpy.py,v 1.127 2004/03/21 14:05:42 tundra Exp $"
+RCSID = "$Id: tconfpy.py,v 1.128 2004/03/21 14:10:52 tundra Exp $"
 VERSION = RCSID.split()[2]
 
 # Copyright Information
@@ -488,8 +488,7 @@
     global CondStack, MsgList, SymTable, INLITERAL
 
     orig = line                 # May need copy of original for debug output
-    line = ConditionLine(line)
-    condstate = True            # Results of conditional tests kept here
+
 
     ##########
     # Beginning Of Line Parser
@@ -500,9 +499,9 @@
     # These get highest precedence because they block everything else.
     #####
 
-    if line in (LITERAL, ENDLITERAL):
+    if line.strip() in (LITERAL, ENDLITERAL):
 
-        if line == LITERAL:
+        if line.strip() == LITERAL:
             INLITERAL = True
 
         else:
@@ -529,6 +528,10 @@
         return
 
 
+
+    line = ConditionLine(line)  # Strip out comments and leading/trailing whitespace
+    condstate = True            # Results of conditional tests kept here
+
     # Only attempt on non-blank lines for everything else
     if line: