diff --git a/ietf/meeting/tests_views.py b/ietf/meeting/tests_views.py
index ed05853c0..09af58d67 100644
--- a/ietf/meeting/tests_views.py
+++ b/ietf/meeting/tests_views.py
@@ -1635,7 +1635,7 @@ class MaterialsTests(TestCase):
             q = PyQuery(r.content)
             self.assertTrue(q('form .has-error'))
 
-            test_file = StringIO('this is some text for a test')
+            test_file = StringIO(u'This is some text for a test, with the word\nvirtual at the beginning of a line.')
             test_file.name = "not_really.txt"
             r = self.client.post(url,dict(file=test_file,apply_to_all=False))
             self.assertEqual(r.status_code, 302)
diff --git a/ietf/utils/validators.py b/ietf/utils/validators.py
index 440c43d99..f98f8065a 100644
--- a/ietf/utils/validators.py
+++ b/ietf/utils/validators.py
@@ -73,7 +73,13 @@ def validate_file_size(file):
 
 def validate_mime_type(file, valid):
     file.open()
-    mime_type, encoding = get_mime_type(file.read())
+    raw = file.read()
+    mime_type, encoding = get_mime_type(raw)
+    # work around mis-identification of text where a line has 'virtual' as
+    # the first word:
+    if mime_type == 'text/x-c++' and re.search('(?m)^virtual\s', raw):
+        mod = raw.replace(str('virtual'), str(' virtual'))
+        mime_type, encoding = get_mime_type(mod)
     if not mime_type in valid:
         raise ValidationError('Found content with unexpected mime type: %s.  Expected one of %s.' %
                                     (mime_type, ', '.join(valid) ))