This is shorter and easier to read.
---
rc.multi | 12 +++++-------
1 files changed, 5 insertions(+), 7 deletions(-)

diff --git a/rc.multi b/rc.multi
index 46c18df..ec6fda6 100755
--- a/rc.multi
+++ b/rc.multi
@@ -13,13 +13,11 @@ run_hook multi_start

# Start daemons
for daemon in "${DAEMONS[@]}"; do
- if [[ $daemon = ${daemon#!} ]]; then
- if [[ $daemon = ${daemon#@} ]]; then
- start_daemon $daemon
- else
- start_daemon_bkgd ${daemon:1}
- fi
- fi
+ case ${daemon:0:1} in
+ '!') continue;; # Skip this daemon.
+ '@') start_daemon_bkgd ${daemon#@};;
+ *) start_daemon $daemon;;
+ esac
done

if [[ -x /etc/rc.local ]]; then
--
1.7.1