local variables can cause infloops

Yank the following text into a new buffer, then try to 'C-x C-w foo.el RET'... ;; foo.el --- test file ;; There is nothing in this except for comments ;; and a Local Variables: section ;Local Variables: ;mode: emacs-lisp ;end: -- |---<Steve Youngs>---------------<GnuPG KeyID: A94B3003>---| | Ashes to ashes, dust to dust. | | The proof of the pudding, is under the crust. | |------------------------------&lt;sryoungs(a)bigpond.net.au&gt;---|