diff --git a/ptasm.py b/ptasm.py
index a6f42c9..f4f065f 100755
--- a/ptasm.py
+++ b/ptasm.py
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ Grammar = (
     | Empty())
 
 def strip(line):
-    return line.rstrip().split(";", 1)[0]
+    return line.split(";", 1)[0].rstrip()
 
 class Assembler:
     def __init__(self):