diff --git a/lib/dns/resconf.c b/lib/dns/resconf.c
index 47e8e4e663..d1d660e60a 100644
--- a/lib/dns/resconf.c
+++ b/lib/dns/resconf.c
@@ -585,9 +585,11 @@ irs_resconf_load(isc_mem_t *mctx, const char *filename, irs_resconf_t **confp) {
 			} else {
 				/* unrecognised word. Ignore entire line */
 				rval = ISC_R_SUCCESS;
-				stopchar = eatline(fp);
-				if (stopchar == EOF) {
-					break;
+				if (stopchar != '\n') {
+					stopchar = eatline(fp);
+					if (stopchar == EOF) {
+						break;
+					}
 				}
 			}
 			if (ret == ISC_R_SUCCESS && rval != ISC_R_SUCCESS) {