diff --git a/build/lib/uses-babel.coffee b/build/lib/uses-babel.coffee
index 08f8721d2..dcd480d4e 100644
--- a/build/lib/uses-babel.coffee
+++ b/build/lib/uses-babel.coffee
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ fs = require 'fs'
 BABEL_PREFIXES = [
   "'use babel'"
   '"use babel"'
-  '/** use babel */'
+  '/** @babel */'
 ]
 
 PREFIX_LENGTH = Math.max(BABEL_PREFIXES.map((prefix) -> prefix.length)...)
diff --git a/spec/babel-spec.coffee b/spec/babel-spec.coffee
index 421e4c48a..caaaed9f2 100644
--- a/spec/babel-spec.coffee
+++ b/spec/babel-spec.coffee
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 describe "Babel transpiler support", ->
-  describe 'when a .js file starts with /** use babel */;', ->
+  describe 'when a .js file starts with /** @babel */;', ->
     it "transpiles it using babel", ->
       transpiled = require('./fixtures/babel/babel-comment.js')
       expect(transpiled(3)).toBe 4
diff --git a/spec/fixtures/babel/babel-comment.js b/spec/fixtures/babel/babel-comment.js
index 4fb454999..ee9a27373 100644
--- a/spec/fixtures/babel/babel-comment.js
+++ b/spec/fixtures/babel/babel-comment.js
@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@
-/** use babel */
+/** @babel */
 
 module.exports = v => v + 1
diff --git a/src/babel.js b/src/babel.js
index a80694587..738433ed8 100644
--- a/src/babel.js
+++ b/src/babel.js
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ let babelVersionDirectory = null
 const defaultOptions = require('../static/babelrc.json')
 
 exports.shouldCompile = function(sourceCode) {
-  return sourceCode.startsWith('/** use babel */') ||
+  return sourceCode.startsWith('/** @babel */') ||
     sourceCode.startsWith('"use babel"') ||
     sourceCode.startsWith("'use babel'")
 }