diff --git a/code/XFileParser.cpp b/code/XFileParser.cpp
index f805bfb9a..3bad8c963 100644
--- a/code/XFileParser.cpp
+++ b/code/XFileParser.cpp
@@ -1000,6 +1000,22 @@ void XFileParser::CheckForSeparator()
 		ThrowException( "Separator character (';' or ',') expected.");
 }
 
+// ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// tests and possibly consumes a separator char, but does nothing if there was no separator
+void XFileParser::TestForSeparator()
+{
+  if( mIsBinaryFormat)
+    return;
+
+  FindNextNoneWhiteSpace();
+  if( P >= End)
+    return;
+
+  // test and skip
+  if( *P == ';' || *P == ',')
+    P++;
+}
+
 // ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 void XFileParser::readHeadOfDataObject( std::string* poName)
 {
@@ -1332,7 +1348,7 @@ aiVector2D XFileParser::ReadVector2()
 	aiVector2D vector;
 	vector.x = ReadFloat();
 	vector.y = ReadFloat();
-	CheckForSeparator();
+	TestForSeparator();
 
 	return vector;
 }
@@ -1344,7 +1360,7 @@ aiVector3D XFileParser::ReadVector3()
 	vector.x = ReadFloat();
 	vector.y = ReadFloat();
 	vector.z = ReadFloat();
-	CheckForSeparator();
+	TestForSeparator();
 
 	return vector;
 }
@@ -1357,7 +1373,7 @@ aiColor4D XFileParser::ReadRGBA()
 	color.g = ReadFloat();
 	color.b = ReadFloat();
 	color.a = ReadFloat();
-	CheckForSeparator();
+	TestForSeparator();
 
 	return color;
 }
@@ -1369,7 +1385,7 @@ aiColor3D XFileParser::ReadRGB()
 	color.r = ReadFloat();
 	color.g = ReadFloat();
 	color.b = ReadFloat();
-	CheckForSeparator();
+	TestForSeparator();
 
 	return color;
 }
diff --git a/code/XFileParser.h b/code/XFileParser.h
index b21af1bd3..9f1ec6f33 100644
--- a/code/XFileParser.h
+++ b/code/XFileParser.h
@@ -116,6 +116,9 @@ protected:
 	//! checks for a separator char, either a ',' or a ';'
 	void CheckForSeparator();
 
+  /// tests and possibly consumes a separator char, but does nothing if there was no separator
+  void TestForSeparator();
+
 	//! reads a x file style string
 	void GetNextTokenAsString( std::string& poString);