diff --git a/Lib/sre_compile.py b/Lib/sre_compile.py
index 7cda2b657b..425a1f80cb 100644
--- a/Lib/sre_compile.py
+++ b/Lib/sre_compile.py
@@ -355,8 +355,8 @@ def _optimize_unicode(charset, fixup):
 def _simple(av):
     # check if av is a "simple" operator
     lo, hi = av[2].getwidth()
-    if lo == 0 and hi == MAXREPEAT:
-        raise error, "nothing to repeat"
+    #if lo == 0 and hi == MAXREPEAT:
+    #    raise error, "nothing to repeat"
     return lo == hi == 1 and av[2][0][0] != SUBPATTERN
 
 def _compile_info(code, pattern, flags):