diff --git a/builtin/item.lua b/builtin/item.lua
index 9352a43fc..4be77e1d7 100644
--- a/builtin/item.lua
+++ b/builtin/item.lua
@@ -182,7 +182,8 @@ function minetest.item_place_node(itemstack, placer, pointed_thing)
 	end
 
 	-- Check if the node is attached and if it can be placed there
-	if not check_attached_node(place_to, newnode) then
+	if minetest.get_item_group(def.name, "attached_node") ~= 0 and
+		not check_attached_node(place_to, newnode) then
 		minetest.log("action", "attached node " .. def.name ..
 			" can not be placed at " .. minetest.pos_to_string(place_to))
 		return