diff --git a/pyramid_mailer/message.py b/pyramid_mailer/message.py
index 3f97432..d1fb902 100644
--- a/pyramid_mailer/message.py
+++ b/pyramid_mailer/message.py
@@ -139,10 +139,6 @@ def validate(self):
         if not (self.recipients or self.cc or self.bcc):
             raise InvalidMessage("No recipients have been added")
 
-        if (self.cc or self.bcc) and not self.recipients:
-            raise InvalidMessage("Must have at least one direct recipient "
-                                 "even if cc or bcc set")
-
         if not self.body and not self.html:
             raise InvalidMessage("No body has been set")
 
diff --git a/pyramid_mailer/tests.py b/pyramid_mailer/tests.py
index a148a1d..2c56241 100644
--- a/pyramid_mailer/tests.py
+++ b/pyramid_mailer/tests.py
@@ -168,8 +168,22 @@ def test_cc_without_recipients(self):
                       body="testing",
                       cc=["tosomeoneelse@example.com"])
         mailer = Mailer()
-        from pyramid_mailer.exceptions import InvalidMessage
-        self.assertRaises(InvalidMessage, mailer.send, msg)
+        msgid = mailer.send(msg)
+        response = msg.get_response()
+
+        self.assertTrue("Cc: tosomeoneelse@example.com" in str(response))
+        self.assertTrue(msgid)
+
+    def test_cc_without_recipients_2(self):
+
+        from pyramid_mailer.message import Message
+
+        msg = Message(subject="testing",
+                      sender="sender@example.com",
+                      body="testing",
+                      cc=["tosomeoneelse@example.com"])
+        response = msg.get_response()
+        self.assertTrue("Cc: tosomeoneelse@example.com" in str(response))
 
     def test_bcc_without_recipients(self):
 
@@ -181,8 +195,11 @@ def test_bcc_without_recipients(self):
                       body="testing",
                       bcc=["tosomeoneelse@example.com"])
         mailer = Mailer()
-        from pyramid_mailer.exceptions import InvalidMessage
-        self.assertRaises(InvalidMessage, mailer.send, msg)
+        msgid = mailer.send(msg)
+        response = msg.get_response()
+
+        self.assertFalse("Bcc: tosomeoneelse@example.com" in str(response))
+        self.assertTrue(msgid)
 
     def test_attach(self):