diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 386481b..a3d2962 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -287,6 +287,13 @@ To install a specific version of node:
 nvm install 14.7.0 # or 16.3.0, 12.22.1, etc
 ```
 
+To set an alias:
+
+```sh
+nvm alias my_alias v14.4.0
+```
+Make sure that your alias does not contain any spaces or any hashtags (#).
+
 The first version installed becomes the default. New shells will start with the default version of node (e.g., `nvm alias default`).
 
 You can list available versions using `ls-remote`:
@@ -535,9 +542,18 @@ Found '/path/to/project/.nvmrc' with version <5.9>
 Now using node v5.9.1 (npm v3.7.3)
 ```
 
-`nvm use` et. al. will traverse directory structure upwards from the current directory looking for the `.nvmrc` file. In other words, running `nvm use` et. al. in any subdirectory of a directory with an `.nvmrc` will result in that `.nvmrc` being utilized.
+`.nvmrc` files may have comments. The following is the notation to have a comment inside a `.nvmrc` file:
+```bash
+# This is a comment
 
-The contents of a `.nvmrc` file **must** be the `<version>` (as described by `nvm --help`) followed by a newline. No trailing spaces are allowed, and the trailing newline is required.
+  node # Another comment
+```
+When reading the `.nvmrc` file, nvm will:
+1. Remove all comments on their own line as shown in the first line of the example
+2. Remove all comments in middle of a line. Because of this, # is not allowed inside your `nvm` alias. Example on line 3
+3. Remove all newlines such as the one on line 2
+4. Remove all tabs
+5. Trim the lines
 
 ### Deeper Shell Integration
 
@@ -704,7 +720,6 @@ nvm exposes the following environment variables:
 
 Additionally, nvm modifies `PATH`, and, if present, `MANPATH` and `NODE_PATH` when changing versions.
 
-
 ## Bash Completion
 
 To activate, you need to source `bash_completion`:
diff --git a/nvm.sh b/nvm.sh
index e769fa5..e4c0c49 100644
--- a/nvm.sh
+++ b/nvm.sh
@@ -411,23 +411,28 @@ nvm_find_nvmrc() {
 
 # Obtain nvm version from rc file
 nvm_rc_version() {
+  local NVM_USE_SILENT
+  NVM_USE_SILENT=false
+  if [ "${1-}" = '--silent' ]; then
+    NVM_USE_SILENT=true
+  fi
   export NVM_RC_VERSION=''
   local NVMRC_PATH
   NVMRC_PATH="$(nvm_find_nvmrc)"
   if [ ! -e "${NVMRC_PATH}" ]; then
-    if [ "${NVM_SILENT:-0}" -ne 1 ]; then
+    if [ "${NVM_USE_SILENT}" != true ]; then
       nvm_err "No .nvmrc file found"
     fi
     return 1
   fi
-  NVM_RC_VERSION="$(command head -n 1 "${NVMRC_PATH}" | command tr -d '\r')" || command printf ''
+  NVM_RC_VERSION="$(command cat "${NVMRC_PATH}" | command tr -d '\r' | sed -e 's/\s*#.*$// ; /^\s*$/d' | command tr -d '\n' | command tr -d '\t' | command head -n 1 | sed -e 's/ *$//g ; s/^ *//g')" || command printf ''
   if [ -z "${NVM_RC_VERSION}" ]; then
-    if [ "${NVM_SILENT:-0}" -ne 1 ]; then
+    if [ "${NVM_USE_SILENT}" != true ]; then
       nvm_err "Warning: empty .nvmrc file found at \"${NVMRC_PATH}\""
     fi
     return 2
   fi
-  if [ "${NVM_SILENT:-0}" -ne 1 ]; then
+  if [ "${NVM_USE_SILENT}" != true ]; then
     nvm_echo "Found '${NVMRC_PATH}' with version <${NVM_RC_VERSION}>"
   fi
 }
@@ -3467,24 +3472,25 @@ nvm() {
       done
     ;;
     "deactivate")
-      local NVM_SILENT
+      local NVM_USE_SILENT
       while [ $# -ne 0 ]; do
-        case "${1}" in
-          --silent) NVM_SILENT=1 ;;
-          --) ;;
+        case "$1" in
+          --silent)
+            NVM_USE_SILENT=1
+            shift
+          ;;
         esac
-        shift
       done
       local NEWPATH
       NEWPATH="$(nvm_strip_path "${PATH}" "/bin")"
       if [ "_${PATH}" = "_${NEWPATH}" ]; then
-        if [ "${NVM_SILENT:-0}" -ne 1 ]; then
+        if [ "$NVM_USE_SILENT" -ne 1 ]; then
           nvm_err "Could not find ${NVM_DIR}/*/bin in \${PATH}"
         fi
       else
         export PATH="${NEWPATH}"
         hash -r
-        if [ "${NVM_SILENT:-0}" -ne 1 ]; then
+        if [ "$NVM_USE_SILENT" -ne 1 ]; then
           nvm_echo "${NVM_DIR}/*/bin removed from \${PATH}"
         fi
       fi
@@ -3492,12 +3498,12 @@ nvm() {
       if [ -n "${MANPATH-}" ]; then
         NEWPATH="$(nvm_strip_path "${MANPATH}" "/share/man")"
         if [ "_${MANPATH}" = "_${NEWPATH}" ]; then
-          if [ "${NVM_SILENT:-0}" -ne 1 ]; then
+          if [ "$NVM_USE_SILENT" -ne 1 ]; then
             nvm_err "Could not find ${NVM_DIR}/*/share/man in \${MANPATH}"
           fi
         else
           export MANPATH="${NEWPATH}"
-          if [ "${NVM_SILENT:-0}" -ne 1 ]; then
+          if [ "$NVM_USE_SILENT" -ne 1 ]; then
             nvm_echo "${NVM_DIR}/*/share/man removed from \${MANPATH}"
           fi
         fi
@@ -3507,7 +3513,7 @@ nvm() {
         NEWPATH="$(nvm_strip_path "${NODE_PATH}" "/lib/node_modules")"
         if [ "_${NODE_PATH}" != "_${NEWPATH}" ]; then
           export NODE_PATH="${NEWPATH}"
-          if [ "${NVM_SILENT:-0}" -ne 1 ]; then
+          if [ "$NVM_USE_SILENT" -ne 1 ]; then
             nvm_echo "${NVM_DIR}/*/lib/node_modules removed from \${NODE_PATH}"
           fi
         fi
@@ -3517,7 +3523,8 @@ nvm() {
     ;;
     "use")
       local PROVIDED_VERSION
-      local NVM_SILENT
+      local NVM_USE_SILENT
+      NVM_USE_SILENT=0
       local NVM_SILENT_ARG
       local NVM_DELETE_PREFIX
       NVM_DELETE_PREFIX=0
@@ -3526,7 +3533,7 @@ nvm() {
       while [ $# -ne 0 ]; do
         case "$1" in
           --silent)
-            NVM_SILENT=1
+            NVM_USE_SILENT=1
             NVM_SILENT_ARG='--silent'
           ;;
           --delete-prefix) NVM_DELETE_PREFIX=1 ;;
@@ -3546,7 +3553,12 @@ nvm() {
       if [ -n "${NVM_LTS-}" ]; then
         VERSION="$(nvm_match_version "lts/${NVM_LTS:-*}")"
       elif [ -z "${PROVIDED_VERSION-}" ]; then
-        NVM_SILENT="${NVM_SILENT:-0}" nvm_rc_version
+        # Get the .nvmrc version depending if quiet mode is on or not
+        if [ "$NVM_USE_SILENT" -ne 1 ]; then
+          nvm_rc_version
+        else
+          nvm_rc_version --silent
+        fi
         if [ -n "${NVM_RC_VERSION-}" ]; then
           PROVIDED_VERSION="${NVM_RC_VERSION}"
           VERSION="$(nvm_version "${PROVIDED_VERSION}")"
@@ -3566,28 +3578,44 @@ nvm() {
       fi
 
       if [ "_${VERSION}" = '_system' ]; then
-        if nvm_has_system_node && nvm deactivate "${NVM_SILENT_ARG-}" >/dev/null 2>&1; then
-          if [ "${NVM_SILENT:-0}" -ne 1 ]; then
-            nvm_echo "Now using system version of node: $(node -v 2>/dev/null)$(nvm_print_npm_version)"
+        if [ $NVM_USE_SILENT -ne 1 ]; then
+          if nvm_has_system_node && nvm deactivate >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+            if [ $NVM_USE_SILENT -ne 1 ]; then
+              nvm_echo "Now using system version of node: $(node -v 2>/dev/null)$(nvm_print_npm_version)"
+            fi
+            return
+          elif nvm_has_system_iojs && nvm deactivate >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+            if [ $NVM_USE_SILENT -ne 1 ]; then
+              nvm_echo "Now using system version of io.js: $(iojs --version 2>/dev/null)$(nvm_print_npm_version)"
+            fi
+            return
+          elif [ $NVM_USE_SILENT -ne 1 ]; then
+            nvm_err 'System version of node not found.'
           fi
-          return
-        elif nvm_has_system_iojs && nvm deactivate "${NVM_SILENT_ARG-}" >/dev/null 2>&1; then
-          if [ "${NVM_SILENT:-0}" -ne 1 ]; then
-            nvm_echo "Now using system version of io.js: $(iojs --version 2>/dev/null)$(nvm_print_npm_version)"
+        else
+          if nvm_has_system_node && nvm deactivate --quiet >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+            if [ $NVM_USE_SILENT -ne 1 ]; then
+              nvm_echo "Now using system version of node: $(node -v 2>/dev/null)$(nvm_print_npm_version)"
+            fi
+            return
+          elif nvm_has_system_iojs && nvm deactivate --quiet >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+            if [ $NVM_USE_SILENT -ne 1 ]; then
+              nvm_echo "Now using system version of io.js: $(iojs --version 2>/dev/null)$(nvm_print_npm_version)"
+            fi
+            return
+          elif [ $NVM_USE_SILENT -ne 1 ]; then
+            nvm_err 'System version of node not found.'
           fi
-          return
-        elif [ "${NVM_SILENT:-0}" -ne 1 ]; then
-          nvm_err 'System version of node not found.'
         fi
         return 127
       elif [ "_${VERSION}" = "_∞" ]; then
-        if [ "${NVM_SILENT:-0}" -ne 1 ]; then
+        if [ "${NVM_USE_SILENT}" -ne 1 ]; then
           nvm_err "The alias \"${PROVIDED_VERSION}\" leads to an infinite loop. Aborting."
         fi
         return 8
       fi
       if [ "${VERSION}" = 'N/A' ]; then
-        if [ "${NVM_SILENT:-0}" -ne 1 ]; then
+        if [ $NVM_USE_SILENT -ne 1 ]; then
           nvm_err "N/A: version \"${PROVIDED_VERSION} -> ${VERSION}\" is not yet installed."
           nvm_err ""
           nvm_err "You need to run \"nvm install ${PROVIDED_VERSION}\" to install it before using it."
@@ -3622,7 +3650,7 @@ nvm() {
       fi
       local NVM_USE_OUTPUT
       NVM_USE_OUTPUT=''
-      if [ "${NVM_SILENT:-0}" -ne 1 ]; then
+      if [ "${NVM_USE_SILENT}" -ne 1 ]; then
         if nvm_is_iojs_version "${VERSION}"; then
           NVM_USE_OUTPUT="Now using io.js $(nvm_strip_iojs_prefix "${VERSION}")$(nvm_print_npm_version)"
         else
@@ -3635,14 +3663,14 @@ nvm() {
         if [ -n "${PROVIDED_VERSION}" ]; then
           NVM_USE_CMD="${NVM_USE_CMD} ${VERSION}"
         fi
-        if [ "${NVM_SILENT:-0}" -eq 1 ]; then
+        if [ "${NVM_USE_SILENT}" -eq 1 ]; then
           NVM_USE_CMD="${NVM_USE_CMD} --silent"
         fi
         if ! nvm_die_on_prefix "${NVM_DELETE_PREFIX}" "${NVM_USE_CMD}" "${NVM_VERSION_DIR}"; then
           return 11
         fi
       fi
-      if [ -n "${NVM_USE_OUTPUT-}" ] && [ "${NVM_SILENT:-0}" -ne 1 ]; then
+      if [ -n "${NVM_USE_OUTPUT-}" ] && [ "$NVM_USE_SILENT" -ne 1 ]; then
         nvm_echo "${NVM_USE_OUTPUT}"
       fi
     ;;
@@ -3969,6 +3997,9 @@ nvm() {
         # so, unalias it.
         nvm unalias "${ALIAS}"
         return $?
+      elif echo "$ALIAS" | grep -q "#"; then
+        nvm_err "Aliases may not have a # inside it"
+        exit 1
       elif [ "${TARGET}" != '--' ]; then
         # a target was passed: create an alias
         if [ "${ALIAS#*\/}" != "${ALIAS}" ]; then
diff --git a/test/slow/nvm use/Running 'nvm use' ignores comments in the nvmrc b/test/slow/nvm use/Running 'nvm use' ignores comments in the nvmrc
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..0bf5dde
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/slow/nvm use/Running 'nvm use' ignores comments in the nvmrc	
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+#!/bin/sh
+
+die () { echo "$@" ; rm -f .nvmrc; exit 1; }
+
+\. ../../../nvm.sh
+
+nvm deactivate >/dev/null 2>&1 || die 'deactivate failed'
+touch .nvmrc
+echo '# Test' > .nvmrc
+echo 'node' >> .nvmrc
+OUTPUT="$(nvm_rc_version || die 'nvm_rc_version failed')"
+EXPECTED_OUTPUT="Found '$(nvm_find_up .nvmrc)/.nvmrc' with version <node>"
+
+[ "_$OUTPUT" = "_$EXPECTED_OUTPUT" ] \
+  || die "'nvm_rc_version' did not output '$EXPECTED_OUTPUT'; got '$OUTPUT'"
+
+rm -f .nvmrc