diff --git a/en/ports/portindex b/en/ports/portindex
index 50924917cb..0814c8e94a 100755
--- a/en/ports/portindex
+++ b/en/ports/portindex
@@ -162,8 +162,12 @@ sub main {
 	}
 
     	# Add an entry to the master index
+
+	# workaround for SGML bug, `--' is not allowed in comments
+	local ($sname) = $name; 
+	$sname =~ s/--/-=/g;
     	$master[$portnumber] = 
-    	    "<STRONG><A HREF=\"$cat[0].html#$name\">$name</A></STRONG> " .
+    	    "<!-- $sname --><STRONG><A HREF=\"$cat[0].html#$name\">$name</A></STRONG> " .
     	    " -- <EM>$desc</EM><BR>\n";
 	$portnumber++;
     }