diff --git a/waflib/Build.py b/waflib/Build.py
index aff43a39..fdd59fb0 100644
--- a/waflib/Build.py
+++ b/waflib/Build.py
@@ -686,9 +686,6 @@ class BuildContext(Context.Context):
 		min_grp = 0
 		for name in self.targets.split(','):
 			tg = self.get_tgen_by_name(name)
-			if not tg:
-				raise Errors.WafError('target %r does not exist' % name)
-
 			m = self.get_group_idx(tg)
 			if m > min_grp:
 				min_grp = m