diff --git a/packages/build_packages.sh b/packages/build_packages.sh
index dde18ce1132..33a13039eca 100755
--- a/packages/build_packages.sh
+++ b/packages/build_packages.sh
@@ -8,12 +8,13 @@ set -ex
 # Change to packages directory.
 cd "$(dirname "$0")"
 
-# ensure ordered by dependency dag
+# Ensure ordered by dependency dag
 while read -r package_dir; do
-    if [ -z "$package_dir" ]; then
-        # Skip empty lines
-        continue
-    fi
+    # Ignore empty lines
+    [[ -z "$package_dir" ]] && continue
+    # Ignore lines beginning with `#`
+    [[ "$package_dir" =~ ^#.* ]] && continue
+
     printf "\n========= RELEASING PACKAGE %s =========\n\n" "$package_dir"
     
     cd "$package_dir"
diff --git a/packages/test.sh b/packages/test.sh
index 0e41ee92268..a19b2d982ce 100755
--- a/packages/test.sh
+++ b/packages/test.sh
@@ -31,12 +31,13 @@ if [ $FOR_PULSAR -eq 0 ]; then
     pip install -r../lib/galaxy/dependencies/pinned-typecheck-requirements.txt
 fi
 
-# ensure ordered by dependency DAG
+# Ensure ordered by dependency DAG
 while read -r package_dir || [ -n "$package_dir" ]; do  # https://stackoverflow.com/questions/12916352/shell-script-read-missing-last-line
-    if [ -z "$package_dir" ]; then
-        # Skip empty lines
-        continue
-    fi
+    # Ignore empty lines
+    [[ -z "$package_dir" ]] && continue
+    # Ignore lines beginning with `#`
+    [[ "$package_dir" =~ ^#.* ]] && continue
+
     printf "\n========= TESTING PACKAGE ${package_dir} =========\n\n"
 
     cd "$package_dir"