diff --git a/src/ex_docmd.c b/src/ex_docmd.c
index f547771555..e78f762440 100644
--- a/src/ex_docmd.c
+++ b/src/ex_docmd.c
@@ -1710,6 +1710,10 @@ do_one_cmd(cmdlinep, sourcing,
     save_cmdmod = cmdmod;
     vim_memset(&cmdmod, 0, sizeof(cmdmod));
 
+    /* "#!anything" is handled like a comment. */
+    if ((*cmdlinep)[0] == '#' && (*cmdlinep)[1] == '!')
+	goto doend;
+
     /*
      * Repeat until no more command modifiers are found.
      */
diff --git a/src/version.c b/src/version.c
index 675985f1db..cfa4666d48 100644
--- a/src/version.c
+++ b/src/version.c
@@ -666,6 +666,8 @@ static char *(features[]) =
 
 static int included_patches[] =
 {   /* Add new patch number below this line */
+/**/
+    56,
 /**/
     55,
 /**/