diff --git a/parse.y b/parse.y
index 50d5e62b0..9ac90a9fd 100644
--- a/parse.y
+++ b/parse.y
@@ -979,6 +979,9 @@ class_item /* IEEE1800-2005: A.1.8 */
 
   | parameter_declaration
 
+    /* Empty class item */
+  | ';'
+
   | error ';'
       { yyerror(@2, "error: invalid class item.");
 	yyerrok;