diff --git a/dlib/matrix/matrix_read_from_istream.h b/dlib/matrix/matrix_read_from_istream.h
index 3aced3584..c9f51178b 100644
--- a/dlib/matrix/matrix_read_from_istream.h
+++ b/dlib/matrix/matrix_read_from_istream.h
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ namespace dlib
             return in.peek() == '\n' ||
                 in.peek() == ' ' || 
                 in.peek() == ',' || 
+                in.peek() == ';' ||
                 in.peek() == '\t' ||
                 in.peek() == '\r';
         }