1 files changed, 4 insertions, 2 deletions
diff --git a/lib/rdoc/encoding.rb b/lib/rdoc/encoding.rb
index 4f0779881c..73ae505daf 100644
--- a/lib/rdoc/encoding.rb
+++ b/lib/rdoc/encoding.rb
@@ -60,8 +60,6 @@ module RDoc::Encoding
   # Sets the encoding of +string+ based on the magic comment
 
   def self.set_encoding string
-    return unless Object.const_defined? :Encoding
-
     first_line = string[/\A(?:#!.*\n)?.*\n/]
 
     name = case first_line
@@ -70,6 +68,10 @@ module RDoc::Encoding
            else                                           return
            end
 
+    string.sub! first_line, ''
+
+    return unless Object.const_defined? :Encoding
+
     enc = Encoding.find name
     string.force_encoding enc if enc
   end