diff --git a/scripts/functions.sh b/scripts/functions.sh
index 798eb76ca..146cfcd3f 100644
--- a/scripts/functions.sh
+++ b/scripts/functions.sh
@@ -445,7 +445,7 @@ function settings()
 	local M="${ME:-settings}"
 	local FIELD="${1}"
 	# Arrays can't begin with period but everything else should.
-	if [[ ${FIELD:0:1} != "." && ${FIELD: -2:2} != "[]" ]]; then
+	if [[ ${FIELD:0:1} != "." && ${FIELD: -2:2} != "[]" && ${FIELD:0:3} != "if " ]]; then
 		echo "${M}: Field names must begin with period '.' (Field='${FIELD}')" >&2
 		return 1
 	fi