diff --git a/libsepol/src/policydb.c b/libsepol/src/policydb.c
index d1019e42..f9b2ec37 100644
--- a/libsepol/src/policydb.c
+++ b/libsepol/src/policydb.c
@@ -3510,10 +3510,6 @@ static int avrule_decl_read(policydb_t * p, avrule_decl_t * decl,
 			return -1;
 		nprim = le32_to_cpu(buf[0]);
 		nel = le32_to_cpu(buf[1]);
-		if (nel && !nprim) {
-			ERR(fp->handle, "unexpected items in decl symbol table with no symbol");
-			return -1;
-		}
 		for (j = 0; j < nel; j++) {
 			if (read_f[i] (p, decl->symtab[i].table, fp)) {
 				return -1;