diff --git a/backend/src/api/nft_api.py b/backend/src/api/nft_api.py
index 7805dfd..b96d913 100644
--- a/backend/src/api/nft_api.py
+++ b/backend/src/api/nft_api.py
@@ -393,7 +393,14 @@ def nft_list_rules(table: str = DEFAULT_TABLE, chain: str = DEFAULT_CHAIN) -> Di
             nft_rule_text_full = text_map[handle]
             # remove trailing ' handle N' to get copy/paste clause
             m = HANDLE_RE.search(nft_rule_text_full)
-            nft_rule_text = nft_rule_text_full[: m.start()].strip() if m else nft_rule_text_full
+            if m:
+                # slice everything before ' handle N'
+                raw_clause = nft_rule_text_full[: m.start()].strip()
+            else:
+                raw_clause = nft_rule_text_full
+            # remove a trailing lone '#' (and surrounding whitespace) if present
+            # e.g. "meta iifname \"eth0\"  # "  -> "meta iifname \"eth0\""
+            nft_rule_text = re.sub(r"\s*#\s*$", "", raw_clause).strip()
             add_command = f"add rule {table_name} {chain_name} {nft_rule_text}".strip() if nft_rule_text else None
             logger.debug("Attached textual rule for handle %s", handle)
         else: