diff --git a/clippy_lints/src/attrs.rs b/clippy_lints/src/attrs.rs
index f03dcbc5a9aa..2d9960c7e3d8 100644
--- a/clippy_lints/src/attrs.rs
+++ b/clippy_lints/src/attrs.rs
@@ -110,9 +110,9 @@ impl LateLintPass for AttrPass {
                     if let MetaItemKind::List(ref lint_list) = attr.value.node {
                         match &*attr.name().as_str() {
                             "allow" | "warn" | "deny" | "forbid" => {
-                                // whitelist `unused_imports`
+                                // whitelist `unused_imports` and `deprecated`
                                 for lint in lint_list {
-                                    if is_word(lint, "unused_imports") {
+                                    if is_word(lint, "unused_imports") || is_word(lint, "deprecated") {
                                         if let ItemUse(_) = item.node {
                                             return;
                                         }
diff --git a/tests/compile-fail/useless_attribute.rs b/tests/compile-fail/useless_attribute.rs
index 1826f3a20e9b..de3896f091b4 100644
--- a/tests/compile-fail/useless_attribute.rs
+++ b/tests/compile-fail/useless_attribute.rs
@@ -11,4 +11,9 @@ extern crate clippy_lints;
 #[allow(unused_imports)]
 use std::collections;
 
+// don't lint on deprecated for `use` items
+mod foo { #[deprecated] pub struct Bar; }
+#[allow(deprecated)]
+pub use foo::Bar;
+
 fn main() {}