diff --git a/src/backend/tcop/utility.c b/src/backend/tcop/utility.c
index 970c94ee80..3efd262cb8 100644
--- a/src/backend/tcop/utility.c
+++ b/src/backend/tcop/utility.c
@@ -629,7 +629,7 @@ standard_ProcessUtility(PlannedStmt *pstmt,
 			{
 				UnlistenStmt *stmt = (UnlistenStmt *) parsetree;
 
-				PreventCommandDuringRecovery("UNLISTEN");
+				/* allow UNLISTEN during recovery, which is a noop */
 				CheckRestrictedOperation("UNLISTEN");
 				if (stmt->conditionname)
 					Async_Unlisten(stmt->conditionname);