diff --git a/doc/asterisk-conf.tex b/doc/asterisk-conf.tex
index 8464ca21dd..b474b65f0c 100644
--- a/doc/asterisk-conf.tex
+++ b/doc/asterisk-conf.tex
@@ -99,6 +99,9 @@ maxload = 1.0
 ; The maximum number of concurrent calls you want to allow
 maxcalls = 255 
 
+; The minimum amount of free memory (specified in MB) that asterisk should stop accepting calls
+minmemfree = 256
+
 ; Allow #exec entries in configuration files
 execincludes = yes | no
 
diff --git a/main/asterisk.c b/main/asterisk.c
index 99604408bf..995b6df024 100644
--- a/main/asterisk.c
+++ b/main/asterisk.c
@@ -2607,7 +2607,7 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
 		switch (c) {
 #if defined(HAVE_SYSINFO)
 		case 'e':
-			if ((sscanf(optarg, "%ld", &option_minmemfree) != 1) || (option_minmemfree < 0)) {
+			if ((sscanf(&optarg[1], "%ld", &option_minmemfree) != 1) || (option_minmemfree < 0)) {
 				option_minmemfree = 0;
 			}
 			break;