diff --git a/source/sema.h b/source/sema.h
index 7ff07df67..fa02c52a4 100644
--- a/source/sema.h
+++ b/source/sema.h
@@ -1505,9 +1505,15 @@ class sema
         return true;
     }
 
-    auto check(declaration_node const& n)
+    auto check(
+        declaration_node const& n,
+        bool                    emit_errors = true  // pass false to validate checks only
+    )
         -> bool
     {
+        std::vector<error_entry> devnull;
+        auto& errors = emit_errors ? this->errors : devnull;
+
         if (n.has_name("operator")) {
             errors.emplace_back(
                 n.position(),
diff --git a/source/to_cpp1.h b/source/to_cpp1.h
index 7064b0cb4..8a197af43 100644
--- a/source/to_cpp1.h
+++ b/source/to_cpp1.h
@@ -5492,11 +5492,8 @@ class cppfront
 
 
         //  Declarations are handled in multiple passes,
-        //  but we only want to do the sema checks once
-        if (
-            printer.get_phase() == printer.phase2_func_defs
-            && !sema.check(n)
-            )
+        //  but we only want to emit the error messages once (in phase 2)
+        if (!sema.check(n, printer.get_phase() == printer.phase2_func_defs))
         {
             return;
         }