diff --git a/conda_forge_tick/recipe_parser/_parser.py b/conda_forge_tick/recipe_parser/_parser.py
index 140c1e65d..6f6aa5f68 100644
--- a/conda_forge_tick/recipe_parser/_parser.py
+++ b/conda_forge_tick/recipe_parser/_parser.py
@@ -34,6 +34,9 @@
 # this regex matches any line with a selector
 SELECTOR_RE = re.compile(r"^.*#\s*\[(.*)\]")
 
+# this regex matches a lint that only has a selector on it
+ONLY_SELECTOR_RE = re.compile(r"^\s*#\s*\[(.*)\]")
+
 # this one matches bad yaml syntax with a selector on a multiline string start
 BAD_MULTILINE_STRING_WITH_SELECTOR = re.compile(r"[^|#]*\|\s+#")
 
@@ -48,6 +51,10 @@ def _get_yaml_parser():
     return parser
 
 
+def _line_is_only_selector(line):
+    return ONLY_SELECTOR_RE.match(line) is not None
+
+
 def _config_has_key_with_selectors(cfg: dict, key: str):
     for _key in cfg:
         if _key == key or _key.startswith(key + CONDA_SELECTOR):
@@ -96,7 +103,10 @@ def _parse_jinja2_variables(meta_yaml: str) -> dict:
             n.node,
             jinja2.nodes.Const,
         ):
-            if _config_has_key_with_selectors(jinja2_vals, n.target.name):
+            if _config_has_key_with_selectors(jinja2_vals, n.target.name) or (
+                (i < len(all_nodes) - 1)
+                and _line_is_only_selector(all_nodes[i + 1].nodes[0].data.strip())
+            ):
                 # selectors!
 
                 # this block runs if we see the key for the
diff --git a/tests/test_recipe_parser.py b/tests/test_recipe_parser.py
index 102587948..a8254fca1 100644
--- a/tests/test_recipe_parser.py
+++ b/tests/test_recipe_parser.py
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
 
 def test_parsing_ml_jinja2():
     meta_yaml = """\
+{% set namesel = 'val1' %}  # [py2k]
 {% set name = 'val1' %}  # [py2k]
 {% set name = 'val2' %}#[py3k and win]
 {% set version = '4.5.6' %}
@@ -77,6 +78,7 @@ def test_parsing_ml_jinja2():
 """
 
     meta_yaml_canonical = """\
+{% set namesel = "val1" %}  # [py2k]
 {% set name = "val1" %}  # [py2k]
 {% set name = "val2" %}  # [py3k and win]
 {% set version = "4.5.6" %}
@@ -140,6 +142,7 @@ def test_parsing_ml_jinja2():
     cm = CondaMetaYAML(meta_yaml)
 
     # check the jinja2 keys
+    assert cm.jinja2_vars["namesel__###conda-selector###__py2k"] == "val1"
     assert cm.jinja2_vars["name__###conda-selector###__py2k"] == "val1"
     assert cm.jinja2_vars["name__###conda-selector###__py3k and win"] == "val2"
     assert cm.jinja2_vars["version"] == "4.5.6"
@@ -212,6 +215,7 @@ def test_parsing_ml_jinja2():
     true_new_meta_yaml = """\
 {% set foo = "bar" %}
 {% set xfoo = 10 %}  # [win or osx]
+{% set namesel = "val1" %}  # [py2k]
 {% set name = "val1" %}  # [py2k]
 {% set name = "val2" %}  # [py3k and win]
 {% set version = "4.5.6" %}