diff --git a/apps/plugins/goban/sgf.c b/apps/plugins/goban/sgf.c
index 42d4da3365..49dd28ff93 100644
--- a/apps/plugins/goban/sgf.c
+++ b/apps/plugins/goban/sgf.c
@@ -1261,13 +1261,6 @@ read_comment_sgf (char *buffer, size_t buffer_size)
         return -1;
     }
 
-    if (!read_char_no_whitespace (unhandled_fd) == 'C' ||
-        !read_char_no_whitespace (unhandled_fd) == '[')
-    {
-        DEBUGF ("comment prop points to incorrect place in unhandled_fd!!\n");
-        return -1;
-    }
-
     /* make output a string, the lazy way */
     rb->memset (buffer, 0, buffer_size);
     ++bytes_read;
@@ -1358,16 +1351,7 @@ write_comment_sgf (char *string)
 
   start_of_write_wcs:
 
-    if (overwriting)
-    {
-        if (!read_char_no_whitespace (unhandled_fd) == 'C' ||
-            !read_char_no_whitespace (unhandled_fd) == '[')
-        {
-            DEBUGF ("non-comment while overwriting!!\n");
-            return -1;
-        }
-    }
-    else
+    if (!overwriting)
     {
         start_of_comment = rb->lseek (unhandled_fd, 0, SEEK_END);