diff --git a/src/widgets/HelpSystem.cpp b/src/widgets/HelpSystem.cpp
index ada96aeba..4b40d8d95 100644
--- a/src/widgets/HelpSystem.cpp
+++ b/src/widgets/HelpSystem.cpp
@@ -190,6 +190,13 @@ void HelpSystem::ShowHelpDialog(wxWindow *parent,
       }
    }
 
+   // Obtain the local file system file name, without the anchor if present.
+   wxString localfile;
+   if (localFileName.Find('#', true) != wxNOT_FOUND)
+      localfile = localFileName.BeforeLast('#');
+   else
+      localfile = localFileName;
+
    if( localFileName.Contains(wxT("Quick_Help")) )
       // 'Quick_Help' is installed locally
       OpenInDefaultBrowser( localFileName );
@@ -198,7 +205,7 @@ void HelpSystem::ShowHelpDialog(wxWindow *parent,
       // Always go to remote URL.  Use External browser.
       OpenInDefaultBrowser( remoteURL );
    }
-   else if( !wxFileExists( localFileName ))
+   else if( !wxFileExists( localfile ))
    {
       // If you give an empty remote URL, you should have already ensured
       // that the file exists!
diff --git a/src/widgets/HelpSystem.h b/src/widgets/HelpSystem.h
index 90d94cb1e..a5cf908eb 100644
--- a/src/widgets/HelpSystem.h
+++ b/src/widgets/HelpSystem.h
@@ -42,7 +42,12 @@ public:
                    bool bIsFile, bool bModal);
 
    /// Displays a file in your browser, if it's available locally,
-   /// OR else links to the internet.
+   /// OR else links to the internet. Generally using this outside this class
+   /// is depreciated in favour of the "smarter" overload below, unless there
+   /// is a good reason for using this form.
+   /// @param localFileName Name and path of the file on the local machine
+   /// file system to be opened. file.name#anchor syntax is allowed, and therefore
+   /// file names containing a '#' are not (on any platform).
    static void ShowHelpDialog(wxWindow *parent,
                      const wxString &localFileName,
                      const wxString &remoteURL);