diff --git a/bitbake/lib/bb/parse/parse_py/BBHandler.py b/bitbake/lib/bb/parse/parse_py/BBHandler.py
index c585b60fee..88ad03960a 100644
--- a/bitbake/lib/bb/parse/parse_py/BBHandler.py
+++ b/bitbake/lib/bb/parse/parse_py/BBHandler.py
@@ -200,7 +200,10 @@ def feeder(lineno, s, fn, root, statements):
 
     if s and s[0] == '#':
         if len(__residue__) != 0 and __residue__[0][0] != "#":
-            bb.error("There is a comment on line %s of file %s (%s) which is in the middle of a multiline expression.\nBitbake used to ignore these but no longer does so, please fix your metadata as errors are likely as a result of this change." % (lineno, fn, s))
+            bb.fatal("There is a comment on line %s of file %s (%s) which is in the middle of a multiline expression.\nBitbake used to ignore these but no longer does so, please fix your metadata as errors are likely as a result of this change." % (lineno, fn, s))
+
+    if len(__residue__) != 0 and __residue__[0][0] == "#" and s[0] != "#":
+        bb.fatal("There is a confusing multiline, partially commented expression on line %s of file %s (%s).\nPlease clarify whether this is all a comment or should be parsed." % (lineno, fn, s))
 
     if s and s[-1] == '\\':
         __residue__.append(s[:-1])
diff --git a/bitbake/lib/bb/parse/parse_py/ConfHandler.py b/bitbake/lib/bb/parse/parse_py/ConfHandler.py
index dbc6776c89..9b09c9f56a 100644
--- a/bitbake/lib/bb/parse/parse_py/ConfHandler.py
+++ b/bitbake/lib/bb/parse/parse_py/ConfHandler.py
@@ -98,15 +98,22 @@ def handle(fn, data, include):
     while True:
         lineno = lineno + 1
         s = f.readline()
-        if not s: break
+        if not s:
+            break
         w = s.strip()
-        if not w: continue          # skip empty lines
+        # skip empty lines
+        if not w:
+            continue
         s = s.rstrip()
-        if s[0] == '#': continue    # skip comments
         while s[-1] == '\\':
             s2 = f.readline().strip()
             lineno = lineno + 1
+            if s2 and s[0] == "#" and s2[0] != "#":
+                bb.fatal("There is a confusing multiline, partially commented expression on line %s of file %s (%s).\nPlease clarify whether this is all a comment or should be parsed." % (lineno, fn, s))
             s = s[:-1] + s2
+        # skip comments
+        if s[0] == '#':
+            continue
         feeder(lineno, s, fn, statements)
 
     # DONE WITH PARSING... time to evaluate