diff --git a/src/build/feature.jam b/src/build/feature.jam
index d97987c07..2d5258406 100644
--- a/src/build/feature.jam
+++ b/src/build/feature.jam
@@ -188,10 +188,6 @@ rule valid ( names + )
 # return the attibutes of the given feature
 rule attributes ( feature )
 {
-    if ! [ valid $(feature) ]
-    {
-        error \"$(feature)\" is not a valid feature name ;
-    }
     return $($(feature).attributes) ;
 }