diff --git a/userspace/falco/lua/compiler.lua b/userspace/falco/lua/compiler.lua
index 0c94f753..59c2eeba 100644
--- a/userspace/falco/lua/compiler.lua
+++ b/userspace/falco/lua/compiler.lua
@@ -369,23 +369,6 @@ function get_macros(ast, set)
    return set
 end
 
-function check_macros(ast)
-   local macros
-   if (ast.type == "Rule") then
-      macros = get_macros(ast.filter, {})
-   elseif (ast.type == "MacroDef") then
-      macros = get_macros(ast.value, {})
-   else
-      error ("Unexpected type: "..t)
-   end
-
-   for m, _ in pairs(macros) do
-      if macros[m] == nil then
-         error ("Undefined macro '"..m.."' used in '"..line.."'")
-      end
-   end
-end
-
 function print_ast(ast, level)
    local t = ast.type
    level = level or 0
@@ -453,9 +436,6 @@ function compiler.compile_line(line, macro_defs)
       return {}
    end
 
-   -- check that any macros used have already been defined
-   check_macros(ast)
-
    if (ast.type == "MacroDef") then
       -- Parsed line is a macro definition, so update our dictionary of macros and
       -- return