diff --git a/includes/file.inc b/includes/file.inc
index f9306928cf4..4410fe3491b 100644
--- a/includes/file.inc
+++ b/includes/file.inc
@@ -355,7 +355,7 @@ function file_save_upload($source, $dest = 0, $replace = FILE_EXISTS_RENAME) {
       }
     }
 
-    if (!valid_input_data($file)) {
+    if (!user_access('bypass input data check') && !valid_input_data($file)) {
       watchdog('error', t('Possible exploit abuse: invalid data.'));
       drupal_set_message(t('File upload failed: invalid data.'), 'error');
       return 0;