diff --git a/lib/classes/Service.js b/lib/classes/Service.js
index 69136a9bf..952d3a345 100644
--- a/lib/classes/Service.js
+++ b/lib/classes/Service.js
@@ -58,9 +58,6 @@ class Service {
         if (!serverlessFile.provider) {
           throw new SError('"provider" property is missing in serverless.yml');
         }
-        if (!serverlessFile.functions) {
-          throw new SError('"functions" property is missing in serverless.yml');
-        }
 
         if (typeof serverlessFile.provider !== 'object') {
           const providerName = serverlessFile.provider;
@@ -84,7 +81,7 @@ class Service {
         that.custom = serverlessFile.custom;
         that.plugins = serverlessFile.plugins;
         that.resources = serverlessFile.resources;
-        that.functions = serverlessFile.functions;
+        that.functions = serverlessFile.functions || {};
 
         if (serverlessFile.package) {
           that.package.individually = serverlessFile.package.individually;
diff --git a/lib/classes/Service.test.js b/lib/classes/Service.test.js
index 0c3d9fc20..088aad7ef 100644
--- a/lib/classes/Service.test.js
+++ b/lib/classes/Service.test.js
@@ -334,7 +334,7 @@ describe('Service', () => {
       });
     });
 
-    it('should throw error if functions property is missing', () => {
+    it('should not throw error if functions property is missing', () => {
       const SUtils = new Utils();
       const serverlessYml = {
         service: 'service-name',
@@ -347,11 +347,7 @@ describe('Service', () => {
       serviceInstance = new Service(serverless);
 
       return serviceInstance.load().then(() => {
-        // if we reach this, then no error was thrown as expected
-        // so make assertion fail intentionally to let us know something is wrong
-        expect(1).to.equal(2);
-      }).catch(e => {
-        expect(e.name).to.be.equal('ServerlessError');
+        expect(serverless.service.functions).to.deep.equal({});
       });
     });