diff --git a/ghc/compiler/parser/hsparser.y b/ghc/compiler/parser/hsparser.y
index 7e1824511bebc5560669dff9be3208f53739a1c7..e6851364f855be921faa03cdd6109d3fe496c0dc 100644
--- a/ghc/compiler/parser/hsparser.y
+++ b/ghc/compiler/parser/hsparser.y
@@ -916,6 +916,7 @@ maybe_where:
 	|  WHERE vocurly decls vccurly		{ $$ = $3; }
            /* A where containing no decls is OK */
 	|  WHERE 				{ $$ = mknullbind(); }
+	|  WHERE ocurly ccurly			{ $$ = mknullbind(); }
 	|  /* empty */				{ $$ = mknullbind(); }
 	;