diff --git a/src/vim9script.c b/src/vim9script.c
index e9c9b2c..6f84362 100644
--- a/src/vim9script.c
+++ b/src/vim9script.c
@@ -202,7 +202,11 @@
     int
 vim9_comment_start(char_u *p)
 {
+#ifdef FEAT_EVAL
     return p[0] == '#' && !vim9_bad_comment(p);
+#else
+    return p[0] == '#' && (p[1] != '{' || p[2] == '{');
+#endif
 }
 
 #if defined(FEAT_EVAL) || defined(PROTO)