diff --git a/apps/confbridge/conf_config_parser.c b/apps/confbridge/conf_config_parser.c
index 5c430ea3a1..e7a18739cc 100644
--- a/apps/confbridge/conf_config_parser.c
+++ b/apps/confbridge/conf_config_parser.c
@@ -429,6 +429,13 @@ ASTERISK_FILE_VERSION(__FILE__, "$Revision$")
 					each channel using the application.  Like the User and Bridge profiles a menu
 					is passed in to ConfBridge as an argument in the dialplan.</para>
 					<para>Below is a list of menu actions that can be assigned to a DTMF sequence.</para>
+					<note><para>
+						To have the first DTMF digit in a sequence be the '#' character, you need to
+						escape it.  If it is not escaped then normal config file processing will
+						think it is a directive like #include.  For example: The mute setting is
+						toggled when <literal>#1</literal> is pressed.</para>
+						<para><literal>\#1=toggle_mute</literal></para>
+					</note>
 					<note><para>
 					A single DTMF sequence can have multiple actions associated with it. This is
 					accomplished by stringing the actions together and using a <literal>,</literal> as the
@@ -453,7 +460,7 @@ ASTERISK_FILE_VERSION(__FILE__, "$Revision$")
 						<enum name="toggle_mute"><para>
 							Toggle turning on and off mute.  Mute will make the user silent
 							to everyone else, but the user will still be able to listen in.
-							continue to collect the dtmf sequence.</para></enum>
+							</para></enum>
 						<enum name="no_op"><para>
 							This action does nothing (No Operation). Its only real purpose exists for
 							being able to reserve a sequence in the config as a menu exit sequence.</para></enum>
diff --git a/configs/confbridge.conf.sample b/configs/confbridge.conf.sample
index a4f829aa2c..94739a6fe5 100644
--- a/configs/confbridge.conf.sample
+++ b/configs/confbridge.conf.sample
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ type=user
                             ;    loose the user will hear themselves briefly each
                             ;    time they begin talking until the dsp has time to
                             ;    establish that they are in fact talking.
-                            ; 2. When talk detection AMI events are enabled, this value 
+                            ; 2. When talk detection AMI events are enabled, this value
                             ;    determines when talking has begun which results in
                             ;    an AMI event to fire.  If this value is set too tight
                             ;    AMI events may be falsely triggered by variants in
@@ -248,6 +248,11 @@ type=bridge
 ; Below is a list of menu actions that can be assigned
 ; to a DTMF sequence.
 ;
+; To have the first DTMF digit in a sequence be the '#' character, you need to
+; escape it.  If it is not escaped then normal config file processing will
+; think it is a directive like #include.  For example:
+; \#1=toggle_mute                      ; Pressing #1 will toggle the mute setting.
+;
 ; A single DTMF sequence can have multiple actions associated with it. This is
 ; accomplished by stringing the actions together and using a ',' as the delimiter.
 ; Example:  Both listening and talking volume is reset when '5' is pressed.
@@ -270,7 +275,7 @@ type=bridge
                                        ; using the '&' character as a delimiter.
 ; toggle_mute      ; Toggle turning on and off mute.  Mute will make the user silent
                    ; to everyone else, but the user will still be able to listen in.
-                   ; continue to collect the dtmf sequence.
+
 ; no_op ; This action does nothing (No Operation). Its only real purpose exists for
         ; being able to reserve a sequence in the config as a menu exit sequence.
 ; decrease_listening_volume ; Decreases the channel's listening volume.
diff --git a/main/config.c b/main/config.c
index 1126231048..b8356a9bc9 100644
--- a/main/config.c
+++ b/main/config.c
@@ -1419,14 +1419,26 @@ static int process_text_line(struct ast_config *cfg, struct ast_category **cat,
 	} else {
 		/* Just a line (variable = value) */
 		int object = 0;
+		int is_escaped;
+
 		if (!(*cat)) {
 			ast_log(LOG_WARNING,
 				"parse error: No category context for line %d of %s\n", lineno, configfile);
 			return -1;
 		}
-		c = strchr(cur, '=');
 
-		if (c && c > cur && (*(c - 1) == '+')) {
+		is_escaped = cur[0] == '\\';
+		if (is_escaped) {
+			/* First character is escaped. */
+			++cur;
+			if (cur[0] < 33) {
+				ast_log(LOG_ERROR, "Invalid escape in line %d of %s\n", lineno, configfile);
+				return -1;
+			}
+		}
+		c = strchr(cur + is_escaped, '=');
+
+		if (c && c > cur + is_escaped && (*(c - 1) == '+')) {
 			struct ast_variable *var, *replace = NULL;
 			struct ast_str **str = ast_threadstorage_get(&appendbuf, sizeof(*str));
 
@@ -1462,8 +1474,11 @@ static int process_text_line(struct ast_config *cfg, struct ast_category **cat,
 				object = 1;
 				c++;
 			}
+			cur = ast_strip(cur);
 set_new_variable:
-			if ((v = ast_variable_new(ast_strip(cur), ast_strip(c), S_OR(suggested_include_file, cfg->include_level == 1 ? "" : configfile)))) {
+			if (ast_strlen_zero(cur)) {
+				ast_log(LOG_WARNING, "No variable name in line %d of %s\n", lineno, configfile);
+			} else if ((v = ast_variable_new(cur, ast_strip(c), S_OR(suggested_include_file, cfg->include_level == 1 ? "" : configfile)))) {
 				v->lineno = lineno;
 				v->object = object;
 				*last_cat = 0;