diff --git a/x/staking/types/authz.go b/x/staking/types/authz.go
index f1c2a717069a..45ce23089a3e 100644
--- a/x/staking/types/authz.go
+++ b/x/staking/types/authz.go
@@ -94,7 +94,7 @@ func (a StakeAuthorization) Accept(ctx sdk.Context, msg sdk.Msg) (authz.AcceptRe
 		}
 	}
 
-	if !isValidatorExists {
+	if len(allowedList) > 0 && !isValidatorExists {
 		return authz.AcceptResponse{}, sdkerrors.ErrUnauthorized.Wrapf("cannot delegate/undelegate to %s validator", validatorAddress)
 	}
 
diff --git a/x/staking/types/authz_test.go b/x/staking/types/authz_test.go
index d1d740e171f8..fd7f17d63e65 100644
--- a/x/staking/types/authz_test.go
+++ b/x/staking/types/authz_test.go
@@ -120,7 +120,20 @@ func TestAuthzAuthorizations(t *testing.T) {
 			false,
 			nil,
 		},
-
+		{
+			"delegate: testing with a validator out of denylist",
+			[]sdk.ValAddress{},
+			[]sdk.ValAddress{val1},
+			stakingtypes.AuthorizationType_AUTHORIZATION_TYPE_DELEGATE,
+			nil,
+			stakingtypes.NewMsgDelegate(delAddr, val2, coin100),
+			false,
+			false,
+			&stakingtypes.StakeAuthorization{
+				Validators: &stakingtypes.StakeAuthorization_DenyList{
+					DenyList: &stakingtypes.StakeAuthorization_Validators{Address: []string{val1.String()}},
+				}, MaxTokens: nil, AuthorizationType: stakingtypes.AuthorizationType_AUTHORIZATION_TYPE_DELEGATE},
+		},
 		{
 			"undelegate: expect 0 remaining coins",
 			[]sdk.ValAddress{val1, val2},