diff --git a/bin/encrypt_pillar.sh b/bin/encrypt_pillar.sh
index aeed3cf..e002613 100755
--- a/bin/encrypt_pillar.sh
+++ b/bin/encrypt_pillar.sh
@@ -21,5 +21,5 @@ done
 
 [[ -z $STRING ]] && help && exit 1
 
-RECIPIENTS=$(egrep -v '^(#|$)' encrypted_pillar_recipients | while read i; do echo "-r $i"; done | xargs)
+RECIPIENTS=$(egrep '^\s*0x' encrypted_pillar_recipients | while read i; do echo "-r $i"; done | xargs)
 echo -n "${STRING}" | gpg --armor --batch --trust-model always --encrypt ${RECIPIENTS}