--- a/src/jdk.compiler/share/classes/com/sun/tools/javac/comp/Modules.java	Thu Nov 02 10:09:34 2017 +0100
+++ b/src/jdk.compiler/share/classes/com/sun/tools/javac/comp/Modules.java	Thu Nov 02 11:16:27 2017 +0100
@@ -1473,11 +1473,6 @@
                 d.packge.modle = msym;
             }
         }
-
-        if (!allowAccessIntoSystem && (msym.flags() & Flags.SYSTEM_MODULE) != 0 &&
-            msym.patchLocation != null) {
-            log.error(Errors.PatchModuleWithRelease(msym));
-        }
     }
 
     private Set<ModuleSymbol> retrieveRequiresTransitive(ModuleSymbol msym) {

--- a/src/jdk.compiler/share/classes/com/sun/tools/javac/resources/compiler.properties	Thu Nov 02 10:09:34 2017 +0100
+++ b/src/jdk.compiler/share/classes/com/sun/tools/javac/resources/compiler.properties	Thu Nov 02 11:16:27 2017 +0100
@@ -3126,10 +3126,6 @@
 compiler.err.add.reads.with.release=\
     adding read edges for system module {0} is not allowed with --release
 
-# 0: symbol
-compiler.err.patch.module.with.release=\
-    patching system module {0} is not allowed in combination with --release
-
 compiler.warn.addopens.ignored=\
     --add-opens has no effect at compile time
 

--- a/test/langtools/tools/javac/diags/examples/PatchModuleWithRelease/PatchModuleWithRelease.java	Thu Nov 02 10:09:34 2017 +0100
+++ /dev/null	Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 1970 +0000
@@ -1,28 +0,0 @@
-/*
- * Copyright (c) 2017, Oracle and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved.
- * DO NOT ALTER OR REMOVE COPYRIGHT NOTICES OR THIS FILE HEADER.
- *
- * This code is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it
- * under the terms of the GNU General Public License version 2 only, as
- * published by the Free Software Foundation.
- *
- * This code is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT
- * ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or
- * FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the GNU General Public License
- * version 2 for more details (a copy is included in the LICENSE file that
- * accompanied this code).
- *
- * You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License version
- * 2 along with this work; if not, write to the Free Software Foundation,
- * Inc., 51 Franklin St, Fifth Floor, Boston, MA 02110-1301 USA.
- *
- * Please contact Oracle, 500 Oracle Parkway, Redwood Shores, CA 94065 USA
- * or visit www.oracle.com if you need additional information or have any
- * questions.
- */
-
-// key: compiler.err.patch.module.with.release
-// options: --release 9
-
-class PatchModuleWithRelease {
-}

--- a/test/langtools/tools/javac/diags/examples/PatchModuleWithRelease/patchmodule/java.base/java/lang/Test.java	Thu Nov 02 10:09:34 2017 +0100
+++ /dev/null	Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 1970 +0000
@@ -1,27 +0,0 @@
-/*
- * Copyright (c) 2017, Oracle and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved.
- * DO NOT ALTER OR REMOVE COPYRIGHT NOTICES OR THIS FILE HEADER.
- *
- * This code is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it
- * under the terms of the GNU General Public License version 2 only, as
- * published by the Free Software Foundation.
- *
- * This code is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT
- * ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or
- * FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the GNU General Public License
- * version 2 for more details (a copy is included in the LICENSE file that
- * accompanied this code).
- *
- * You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License version
- * 2 along with this work; if not, write to the Free Software Foundation,
- * Inc., 51 Franklin St, Fifth Floor, Boston, MA 02110-1301 USA.
- *
- * Please contact Oracle, 500 Oracle Parkway, Redwood Shores, CA 94065 USA
- * or visit www.oracle.com if you need additional information or have any
- * questions.
- */
-
-package java.lang;
-
-class Test {
-}

--- a/test/langtools/tools/javac/options/release/ReleaseOptionUnsupported.java	Thu Nov 02 10:09:34 2017 +0100
+++ b/test/langtools/tools/javac/options/release/ReleaseOptionUnsupported.java	Thu Nov 02 11:16:27 2017 +0100
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@
 
 /**
  * @test
- * @bug 8178152
+ * @bug 8178152 8187681
  * @summary Verify unsupported modules and module options handling.
  * @library /tools/lib
  * @modules jdk.compiler/com.sun.tools.javac.api
@@ -263,35 +263,19 @@
         tb.createDirectories(patch);
 
         new JavacTask(tb)
-                .options("-XDrawDiagnostics",
-                         "--patch-module", "java.base=" + patch)
+                .options("--patch-module", "java.base=" + patch)
                 .outdir(classes)
                 .files(tb.findJavaFiles(src))
                 .run(Expect.SUCCESS)
-                .writeAll()
-                .getOutputLines(Task.OutputKind.DIRECT);
+                .writeAll();
 
-        List<String> log;
-        List<String> expected;
-
-        log = new JavacTask(tb)
-                .options("-XDrawDiagnostics",
-                         "--patch-module", "java.base=" + patch,
+        new JavacTask(tb)
+                .options("--patch-module", "java.base=" + patch,
                          "--release", Target.DEFAULT.multiReleaseValue())
                 .outdir(classes)
                 .files(tb.findJavaFiles(src))
-                .run(Expect.FAIL)
-                .writeAll()
-                .getOutputLines(Task.OutputKind.DIRECT);
-
-        expected = Arrays.asList(
-                "- compiler.err.patch.module.with.release: java.base",
-                "1 error"
-        );
-
-        if (!expected.equals(log)) {
-            throw new AssertionError("Unexpected output: " + log);
-        }
+                .run(Expect.SUCCESS)
+                .writeAll();
 
         //OK to patch a non-system module:
         tb.createDirectories(classes);