diff --git a/parser/parser_regex.c b/parser/parser_regex.c
index deb704f36..dfab8328a 100644
--- a/parser/parser_regex.c
+++ b/parser/parser_regex.c
@@ -848,7 +848,7 @@ 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)
+		if ((*i)->skip_processing())
 			continue;
 		if ((*i)->gen_policy_re(*prof) == RULE_ERROR)
 			return FALSE;
diff --git a/parser/parser_variable.c b/parser/parser_variable.c
index 15978538b..4f3e8f2f0 100644
--- a/parser/parser_variable.c
+++ b/parser/parser_variable.c
@@ -267,7 +267,7 @@ 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++) {
-		if ((*i)->flags & RULE_FLAG_DELETED)
+		if ((*i)->skip_processing())
 			continue;
 		int error = (*i)->expand_variables();
 		if (error)
diff --git a/parser/profile.cc b/parser/profile.cc
index 27fe570ee..e16546450 100644
--- a/parser/profile.cc
+++ b/parser/profile.cc
@@ -318,7 +318,7 @@ 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++) {
-		if ((*i)->flags & RULE_FLAG_DELETED)
+	  if ((*i)->skip_processing())
 			continue;
 		(*i)->post_parse_profile(*prof);
   }
diff --git a/parser/rule.h b/parser/rule.h
index 469b91580..f4931a890 100644
--- a/parser/rule.h
+++ b/parser/rule.h
@@ -58,6 +58,12 @@ public:
 
 	bool is_type(int type) { return rule_type == type; }
 
+	// rule has been marked as should be skipped by regular processing
+	bool skip_processing()
+	{
+		return (flags == RULE_FLAG_DELETED ||
+			flags == RULE_FLAG_MERGED);
+	}
 	//virtual bool operator<(rule_t const &rhs)const = 0;
 	virtual std::ostream &dump(std::ostream &os) = 0;