diff --git a/src/main/java/com/google/devtools/build/lib/analysis/starlark/StarlarkRuleClassFunctions.java b/src/main/java/com/google/devtools/build/lib/analysis/starlark/StarlarkRuleClassFunctions.java
index 1ec5e1cf9451ed..b294fc210290e6 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/google/devtools/build/lib/analysis/starlark/StarlarkRuleClassFunctions.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/google/devtools/build/lib/analysis/starlark/StarlarkRuleClassFunctions.java
@@ -792,7 +792,8 @@ public void export(EventHandler handler, Label starlarkLabel, String ruleClassNa
       }
       // TODO(b/121385274): remove when we stop allowlisting starlark transitions
       if (hasStarlarkDefinedTransition) {
-        if (!hasFunctionTransitionAllowlist) {
+        if (!starlarkLabel.getRepository().getName().equals("@_builtins")
+            && !hasFunctionTransitionAllowlist) {
           errorf(
               handler,
               "Use of Starlark transition without allowlist attribute"