diff --git a/src/parse.js b/src/parse.js
index c0059ef24..17ce6f307 100644
--- a/src/parse.js
+++ b/src/parse.js
@@ -714,10 +714,6 @@ function parse(source, root, options) {
 
             case "option":
 
-                /* istanbul ignore if */
-                if (!head)
-                    throw illegal(token);
-
                 parseOption(ptr, token);
                 skip(";");
                 break;
diff --git a/tests/data/test.proto b/tests/data/test.proto
index 79f75c5ce..0d73a7a49 100644
--- a/tests/data/test.proto
+++ b/tests/data/test.proto
@@ -33,7 +33,6 @@
 syntax = "proto2";
 
 option java_package = "com.google.apps.jspb.proto";
-option java_multiple_files = true;
 
 import "google/protobuf/descriptor.proto";
 
@@ -267,4 +266,6 @@ message Deeply {
       optional int32 count = 1;
     }
   }
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}
+
+option java_multiple_files = true;