diff --git a/merge_srt.py b/merge_srt.py
index e7c0d51..e6b249e 100644
--- a/merge_srt.py
+++ b/merge_srt.py
@@ -68,9 +68,7 @@ class SRTMerger:
     def split_line(line):
         line = line.strip()
         parts = []
-        for part in shlex.split(line):
-            if part.startswith('#'):
-                break
+        for part in shlex.split(line, comments = True):
             parts.append(part)
         return parts