diff --git a/src/dmd/cparse.d b/src/dmd/cparse.d
index 8d3f3b33ead5..2bb269add33c 100644
--- a/src/dmd/cparse.d
+++ b/src/dmd/cparse.d
@@ -1550,26 +1550,18 @@ final class CParser(AST) : Parser!AST
                 case TOK.semicolon:
                 case TOK.asm_:
                 case TOK.__attribute__:
-                    /* This is a data definition, there cannot now be a
-                     * function definition.
-                     */
-                    first = false;
                     if (token.value == TOK.asm_)
                         asmname = cparseSimpleAsmExpr();
                     if (token.value == TOK.__attribute__)
                     {
                         cparseGnuAttributes(specifier);
                         if (token.value == TOK.leftCurly)
-                        {
-                            error("attributes should be specified before the function definition");
-                            auto t = &token;
-                            if (skipBraces(t))
-                            {
-                                token = *t;
-                                return;
-                            }
-                        }
+                            break;              // function definition
                     }
+                    /* This is a data definition, there cannot now be a
+                     * function definition.
+                     */
+                    first = false;
                     break;
 
                 default:
diff --git a/test/fail_compilation/failcstuff1.c b/test/fail_compilation/failcstuff1.c
index f97b4db68947..4fc884ffeb4d 100644
--- a/test/fail_compilation/failcstuff1.c
+++ b/test/fail_compilation/failcstuff1.c
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 // check the expression parser
 /* TEST_OUTPUT
 ---
-fail_compilation/failcstuff1.c(51): Error: attributes should be specified before the function definition
 fail_compilation/failcstuff1.c(100): Error: no members for `enum E21962`
 fail_compilation/failcstuff1.c(101): Error: no members for anonymous enum
 fail_compilation/failcstuff1.c(152): Error: `;` or `,` expected