diff --git a/src/cmd/go/pkg.go b/src/cmd/go/pkg.go
index 7a71471340..601c30362f 100644
--- a/src/cmd/go/pkg.go
+++ b/src/cmd/go/pkg.go
@@ -673,10 +673,10 @@ func (p *Package) load(stk *importStack, bp *build.Package, err error) *Package
 	p.Target = p.target
 
 	// The gc toolchain only permits C source files with cgo.
-	if len(p.CFiles) > 0 && !p.usesCgo() && buildContext.Compiler == "gc" {
+	if len(p.CFiles) > 0 && !p.usesCgo() && !p.usesSwig() && buildContext.Compiler == "gc" {
 		p.Error = &PackageError{
 			ImportStack: stk.copy(),
-			Err:         fmt.Sprintf("C source files not allowed when not using cgo: %s", strings.Join(p.CFiles, " ")),
+			Err:         fmt.Sprintf("C source files not allowed when not using cgo or SWIG: %s", strings.Join(p.CFiles, " ")),
 		}
 		return p
 	}