diff --git a/templates/etc/pbuilder/debian.erb b/templates/etc/pbuilder/debian.erb
index cc8553d8d9df3eb32c2d50992442fcacb5b171de..60e2f7d36723c9d872da27f21b0d4f322feb998f 100644
--- a/templates/etc/pbuilder/debian.erb
+++ b/templates/etc/pbuilder/debian.erb
@@ -9,11 +9,11 @@ OTHERMIRROR="$OTHERMIRROR |deb http://debian.stanford.edu/debian-local <%= @dist
 <%-
   if (@include_backports) then
     backports_comment_character = ""
-    backports_message = "We want backports."
+    backports_message = "# We want backports."
   else
     backports_comment = "# "
-    backports_message = "Backports distribution either no longer available or not yet\n"
-                      + "available so omitting"
+    backports_message = "# Backports distribution either no longer available or not yet\n"
+                      + "# available so omitting"
   end
 -%>
 <%= backports_message %>