diff --git a/parser/parser_regex.c b/parser/parser_regex.c
index fa3b42ad7..f5df1635d 100644
--- a/parser/parser_regex.c
+++ b/parser/parser_regex.c
@@ -843,6 +843,8 @@ int clear_and_convert_entry(std::string& buffer, char *entry)
 int post_process_policydb_ents(Profile *prof)
 {
 	for (RuleList::iterator i = prof->rule_ents.begin(); i != prof->rule_ents.end(); i++) {
+		if ((*i)->flags & RULE_FLAG_DELETED)
+			continue;
 		if ((*i)->gen_policy_re(*prof) == RULE_ERROR)
 			return FALSE;
 	}
diff --git a/parser/parser_variable.c b/parser/parser_variable.c
index 3665fe773..15978538b 100644
--- a/parser/parser_variable.c
+++ b/parser/parser_variable.c
@@ -267,7 +267,9 @@ static int process_variables_in_entries(struct cod_entry *entry_list)
 static int process_variables_in_rules(Profile &prof)
 {
 	for (RuleList::iterator i = prof.rule_ents.begin(); i != prof.rule_ents.end(); i++) {
-	  int error = (*i)->expand_variables();
+		if ((*i)->flags & RULE_FLAG_DELETED)
+			continue;
+		int error = (*i)->expand_variables();
 		if (error)
 			return error;
 	}
diff --git a/parser/profile.cc b/parser/profile.cc
index 79095d1d8..54ca6b9b5 100644
--- a/parser/profile.cc
+++ b/parser/profile.cc
@@ -280,8 +280,11 @@ void post_process_file_entries(Profile *prof)
 
 void post_process_rule_entries(Profile *prof)
 {
-	for (RuleList::iterator i = prof->rule_ents.begin(); i != prof->rule_ents.end(); i++)
+	for (RuleList::iterator i = prof->rule_ents.begin(); i != prof->rule_ents.end(); i++) {
+		if ((*i)->flags & RULE_FLAG_DELETED)
+			continue;
 		(*i)->post_parse_profile(*prof);
+  }
 }
 
 
diff --git a/parser/rule.h b/parser/rule.h
index 053dfeb8e..5a59af9ad 100644
--- a/parser/rule.h
+++ b/parser/rule.h
@@ -38,11 +38,21 @@ class Profile;
 #define RULE_TYPE_CLASS		3
 
 
+typedef enum { RULE_FLAG_NONE = 0,
+	       RULE_FLAG_DELETED = 1,	// rule deleted - skip
+	       RULE_FLAG_MERGED = 2,	// rule merged with another rule
+	       RULE_FLAG_EXPANDED = 4,	// variable expanded
+	       RULE_FLAG_SUB = 8,	// rule expanded to subrule(s)
+	       RULE_FLAG_IMPLIED = 16,	// rule not specified in policy but
+					// added because it is implied
+} rule_flags_t;
+
 class rule_t {
 public:
 	int rule_type;
+	rule_flags_t flags;
 
-	rule_t(int t): rule_type(t) { }
+	rule_t(int t): rule_type(t), flags(RULE_FLAG_NONE) { }
 	virtual ~rule_t() { };
 
 	bool is_type(int type) { return rule_type == type; }