diff --git a/src/main/java/org/joda/time/tz/ZoneInfoCompiler.java b/src/main/java/org/joda/time/tz/ZoneInfoCompiler.java
index a26410306..e3999c8d6 100644
--- a/src/main/java/org/joda/time/tz/ZoneInfoCompiler.java
+++ b/src/main/java/org/joda/time/tz/ZoneInfoCompiler.java
@@ -366,7 +366,7 @@ static boolean test(String id, DateTimeZone tz) {
                 return false;
             }
 
-            if (nextKey == null || (nextKey.length() < 3 && !"??".equals(nextKey))) {
+            if (nextKey == null || (nextKey.length() < 3 && !"??".equals(nextKey) && !"%z".equals(nextKey))) {
                 System.out.println("*s* Error in " + tz.getID() + " "
                                    + new DateTime(millis,
                                                   ISOChronology.getInstanceUTC())