diff --git a/clippy_lints/src/attrs.rs b/clippy_lints/src/attrs.rs
index 4bb32ec4d327..086716c1f464 100644
--- a/clippy_lints/src/attrs.rs
+++ b/clippy_lints/src/attrs.rs
@@ -106,9 +106,19 @@ impl LateLintPass for AttrPass {
             ItemExternCrate(_) |
             ItemUse(_) => {
                 for attr in &item.attrs {
-                    if let MetaItemKind::List(ref name, _) = attr.node.value.node {
+                    if let MetaItemKind::List(ref name, ref lint_list) = attr.node.value.node {
                         match &**name {
                             "allow" | "warn" | "deny" | "forbid" => {
+                                // whitelist `unused_imports`
+                                for lint in lint_list {
+                                    if let MetaItemKind::Word(ref word) = lint.node {
+                                        if word == "unused_imports" {
+                                            if let ItemUse(_) = item.node {
+                                                return;
+                                            }
+                                        }
+                                    }
+                                }
                                 if let Some(mut sugg) = snippet_opt(cx, attr.span) {
                                     if sugg.len() > 1 {
                                         span_lint_and_then(cx, USELESS_ATTRIBUTE, attr.span,