diff --git a/src/compiler/parser.ts b/src/compiler/parser.ts
index 7778763b3e..e005f1e6d5 100644
--- a/src/compiler/parser.ts
+++ b/src/compiler/parser.ts
@@ -801,6 +801,7 @@ module ts {
                 if (isListElement(kind, /* inErrorRecovery */ false)) {
                     var element = parseElement();
                     result.push(element);
+                    // test elements only if we are not already in strict mode
                     if (!isInStrictMode && checkForStrictMode) {
                         if (isPrologueDirective(element)) {
                             if (isUseStrictPrologueDirective(element)) {