diff --git a/core/src/main/scripts/importer/validateData.py b/core/src/main/scripts/importer/validateData.py
index 2f3316181c4..f4339b9110e 100755
--- a/core/src/main/scripts/importer/validateData.py
+++ b/core/src/main/scripts/importer/validateData.py
@@ -2221,9 +2221,9 @@ def checkAminoAcidChange(self, value):
                 return False
             # lines in this format are single mutations, so the haplotype
             # syntax supported by HGVS strings is not applicable
-            if ';' in value or '+' in value:
+            if ';' in value:
                 # return with an error message
-                self.extra = ("Unexpected ';' or '+' in amino acid change, "
+                self.extra = ("Unexpected ';' in amino acid change, "
                               "multi-variant allele notation is not supported")
                 self.extra_exists = True
                 return False