diff --git a/applications/test/dictionary/testDict b/applications/test/dictionary/testDict
index 08c325bd4c..42a473a52b 100644
--- a/applications/test/dictionary/testDict
+++ b/applications/test/dictionary/testDict
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ boundaryField
     }
 
     // this should have no effect
-    //#remove $inactive
+    #remove inactive
 
     inlet_7  { $active }
     #inputMode overwrite
@@ -105,9 +105,9 @@ baz
 
 
 // this should work
-//#remove active
+#remove active
 
 // this should work too
-//#remove ( bar baz )
+#remove ( bar baz )
 
 // * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
diff --git a/src/OpenFOAM/db/dictionary/functionEntries/removeEntry/removeEntry.C b/src/OpenFOAM/db/dictionary/functionEntries/removeEntry/removeEntry.C
index 34154cce48..78facd8e23 100644
--- a/src/OpenFOAM/db/dictionary/functionEntries/removeEntry/removeEntry.C
+++ b/src/OpenFOAM/db/dictionary/functionEntries/removeEntry/removeEntry.C
@@ -65,8 +65,8 @@ bool Foam::functionEntries::removeEntry::execute
     Istream& is
 )
 {
-    wordList dictKeys = parentDict.toc();
-    wordReList patterns(is);
+    wordList   dictKeys = parentDict.toc();
+    wordReList patterns = readList<wordRe>(is);
 
     labelList indices = findStrings(patterns, dictKeys);