diff --git a/doc/gh-pages.py b/doc/gh-pages.py
index 7bcf802c..80020b66 100755
--- a/doc/gh-pages.py
+++ b/doc/gh-pages.py
@@ -117,7 +117,7 @@ if __name__ == '__main__':
     try:
         cd(pages_dir)
         status = sh2('git status | head -1')
-        branch = re.match('\# On branch (.*)$', status).group(1)
+        branch = re.match('On branch (.*)$', status).group(1)
         if branch != 'gh-pages':
             e = 'On %r, git branch is %r, MUST be "gh-pages"' % (pages_dir,
                                                                  branch)