diff --git a/resources/check.rb b/resources/check.rb
index 9d68755a..652f226e 100644
--- a/resources/check.rb
+++ b/resources/check.rb
@@ -23,5 +23,7 @@ def after_created
     raise Chef::Exceptions::ValidationFailed, "Sensu check #{name}: name cannot contain spaces or special characters"
   end
 
-  raise Chef::Exceptions::ValidationFailed, "Sensu check #{name}: must either define subscribers, or has to be standalone." unless (subscribers || standalone)
+  if action == :create
+     raise Chef::Exceptions::ValidationFailed, "Sensu check #{name}: must either define subscribers, or has to be standalone." unless (subscribers || standalone)
+  end
 end
diff --git a/test/cookbooks/sensu-test/recipes/good_checks.rb b/test/cookbooks/sensu-test/recipes/good_checks.rb
index 195f6143..6b94da28 100644
--- a/test/cookbooks/sensu-test/recipes/good_checks.rb
+++ b/test/cookbooks/sensu-test/recipes/good_checks.rb
@@ -1,4 +1,3 @@
-
 sensu_check "valid_standalone_check" do
   interval 20
   command 'true'
@@ -10,3 +9,7 @@
   command 'true'
   subscribers ['all']
 end
+
+sensu_check "removed_check" do
+  action :delete
+end
diff --git a/test/unit/check_spec.rb b/test/unit/check_spec.rb
index 239c77e5..59ee990c 100644
--- a/test/unit/check_spec.rb
+++ b/test/unit/check_spec.rb
@@ -15,6 +15,13 @@
     expect(chef_run).to create_sensu_check("valid_pubsub_check").with(:subscribers => ['all'])
   end
 
+  it "deletes removed_check without specifying subscriptions/standalone" do
+    expect(chef_run).to delete_sensu_check("removed_check").with(
+      :subscribers => nil,
+      :standalone => nil
+    )
+  end
+
 end
 
 describe 'sensu-test::bad_check_name' do