diff --git a/fishbook/backend/util.py b/fishbook/backend/util.py
index 810cc10..868c366 100644
--- a/fishbook/backend/util.py
+++ b/fishbook/backend/util.py
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ def has_signal(line, col_names):
     values = line.split()
     for i, n in enumerate(col_names):
         if n.lower() == "signal" and i < len(values):
-            if len(values[i].strip()) > 0 and values[i].strip()[0] != "-":
+            if len(values[i].strip()) > 0 and (values[i].strip()[0] != "-" and values[i].strip() != "init"):
                 return True
     return False