diff --git a/compiler/rustc_lint/src/builtin.rs b/compiler/rustc_lint/src/builtin.rs
index 213e8db66a0..8c0956a618d 100644
--- a/compiler/rustc_lint/src/builtin.rs
+++ b/compiler/rustc_lint/src/builtin.rs
@@ -548,8 +548,12 @@ fn check_crate(&mut self, cx: &LateContext<'_>) {
 
     fn check_item(&mut self, cx: &LateContext<'_>, it: &hir::Item<'_>) {
         // Previously the Impl and Use types have been excluded from missing docs,
-        // so we will continue to exclude them for compatibility
-        if let hir::ItemKind::Impl(..) | hir::ItemKind::Use(..) = it.kind {
+        // so we will continue to exclude them for compatibility.
+        //
+        // The documentation on `ExternCrate` is not used at the moment so no need to warn for it.
+        if let hir::ItemKind::Impl(..) | hir::ItemKind::Use(..) | hir::ItemKind::ExternCrate(_) =
+            it.kind
+        {
             return;
         }