diff --git a/Cabal/Distribution/PackageDescription/Check.hs b/Cabal/Distribution/PackageDescription/Check.hs
index 5ef41d3f014845009826dfb26a3c814f2eae272e..192ebf3112017c3fed30c8c116bbe15cd19edddb 100644
--- a/Cabal/Distribution/PackageDescription/Check.hs
+++ b/Cabal/Distribution/PackageDescription/Check.hs
@@ -904,13 +904,6 @@ checkCabalVersion pkg =
         ++ "different modules then list the other ones in the "
         ++ "'other-languages' field."
 
-  , checkVersion [1,18]
-    (not . null $ extraDocFiles pkg) $
-      PackageDistInexcusable $
-           "To use the 'extra-doc-files' field the package needs to specify "
-        ++ "at least 'cabal-version: >= 1.18'."
-
-
     -- check use of reexported-modules sections
   , checkVersion [1,21]
     (maybe False (not.null.reexportedModules) (library pkg)) $