diff --git a/modules/osm/entity.js b/modules/osm/entity.js
index a99f4bbc6..a86635564 100644
--- a/modules/osm/entity.js
+++ b/modules/osm/entity.js
@@ -205,7 +205,7 @@ osmEntity.prototype = {
                     return vals.indexOf(d.old[key]) !== -1;
                 } else {
                     if (tags[key] === d.old[key]) {
-                        if (d.old[key] === d.replace[key]) {
+                        if (d.replace && d.old[key] === d.replace[key]) {
                             return !Object.keys(d.replace).every(function(key) {
                                 return tags[key] === d.replace[key];
                             });
diff --git a/test/spec/validations/outdated_tags.js b/test/spec/validations/outdated_tags.js
index d03609176..2c3abb487 100644
--- a/test/spec/validations/outdated_tags.js
+++ b/test/spec/validations/outdated_tags.js
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ describe('iD.validations.outdated_tags', function () {
         expect(issues).to.have.lengthOf(0);
     });
 
-    it('flags deprecated tags', function() {
+    it('flags deprecated tag with replacement', function() {
         createWay({'highway': 'ford'});
         var issues = validate();
         expect(issues).to.have.lengthOf(1);
@@ -67,6 +67,17 @@ describe('iD.validations.outdated_tags', function () {
         expect(issue.entityIds[0]).to.eql('w-1');
     });
 
+    it('flags deprecated tag with no replacement', function() {
+        createWay({'highway': 'no'});
+        var issues = validate();
+        expect(issues).to.have.lengthOf(1);
+        var issue = issues[0];
+        expect(issue.type).to.eql('outdated_tags');
+        expect(issue.subtype).to.eql('deprecated_tags');
+        expect(issue.severity).to.eql('warning');
+        expect(issue.entityIds).to.have.lengthOf(1);
+        expect(issue.entityIds[0]).to.eql('w-1');
+    });
 
     it('ignores way with no relations', function() {
         createWay({});