diff --git a/src/symtable.xsl b/src/symtable.xsl
index 74008297..228efadf 100644
--- a/src/symtable.xsl
+++ b/src/symtable.xsl
@@ -63,6 +63,8 @@
       @emph{unless} another duplicate symbol of the
       same@tie{}@code{@@name} is found with a different @code{@@src},
         in which case all symbols will be returned.
+  An exception to this rule is made when both symbols lack a @code{@@src},
+    meaning that they are both defined in the same package.
   This allows sloppy comparison on concatenated symbol tables before
     tidying it up.
 
@@ -94,7 +96,11 @@
     <sequence select="if ( count( $srcs ) gt 1 ) then
                           current-group()
                         else
-                          ()" />
+                          if ( ( $srcs[ 1 ] = '.' )
+                               and ( count( current-group() ) gt 1 ) ) then
+                              current-group()
+                            else
+                              ()" />
   </for-each-group>
 </function>
 
diff --git a/test/symtable.xspec b/test/symtable.xspec
index dec07263..25efa1e8 100644
--- a/test/symtable.xspec
+++ b/test/symtable.xspec
@@ -74,12 +74,20 @@
            symbol -->
       <preproc:sym name="no-src" />
 
-      <!-- same package, no @src -->
-      <preproc:sym name="no-src-local"
+      <!-- same package, no @src, no duplicate -->
+      <preproc:sym name="no-src-local-a"
                    foo:uniq="a" />
-      <preproc:sym name="no-src-local"
+      <preproc:sym name="no-src-local-b"
                    foo:uniq="b" />
 
+      <!-- same package, no @src, duplicate -->
+      <preproc:sym name="no-src-local"
+                   foo:uniq="a"
+                   foo:dup="true" />
+      <preproc:sym name="no-src-local"
+                   foo:uniq="b"
+                   foo:dup="true" />
+
       <!-- so it should be considered in determining a duplicate -->
       <preproc:sym name="no-src-dup"
                    foo:uniq="a"