diff --git a/packages/ui/src/base/nav/nav.test.tsx b/packages/ui/src/base/nav/nav.test.tsx
index 9585fe2..444dc3b 100644
--- a/packages/ui/src/base/nav/nav.test.tsx
+++ b/packages/ui/src/base/nav/nav.test.tsx
@@ -551,14 +551,17 @@ describe("GlCollapsibleNav", () => {
     expect(markup).toContain("data-disabled=\"\"");
   });
 
-  it("requires a direct leading and an accessible label for complex content", () => {
-    expect(() => renderToStaticMarkup(
+  it("allows text-only items and requires an accessible label for complex content", () => {
+    const textOnlyMarkup = renderToStaticMarkup(
       <GlNavProvider>
         <GlCollapsibleNav>
           <GlNavItem><GlNavButton>Issues</GlNavButton></GlNavItem>
         </GlCollapsibleNav>
       </GlNavProvider>,
-    )).toThrow("requires a direct leading GlIcon or GlAvatar");
+    );
+
+    expect(textOnlyMarkup).toContain("Issues");
+    expect(textOnlyMarkup).not.toContain("gl-nav-item-has-start-slot");
     expect(() => renderToStaticMarkup(
       <GlNavProvider>
         <GlCollapsibleNav>
diff --git a/packages/ui/src/base/nav/nav.tsx b/packages/ui/src/base/nav/nav.tsx
index 20efc49..61630f3 100644
--- a/packages/ui/src/base/nav/nav.tsx
+++ b/packages/ui/src/base/nav/nav.tsx
@@ -349,9 +349,6 @@ export function useNavButtonInternal(
     invariant(component, "isIconOnly requires a leading GlIcon or GlAvatar.");
   }
   if(isIconOnly && !ariaLabel) invariant(component, "isIconOnly requires aria-label.");
-  if(isCollapsibleTopLevel && !leading) {
-    invariant(component, "requires a direct leading GlIcon or GlAvatar in GlCollapsibleNav.");
-  }
   if(isCollapsibleTopLevel && !ariaLabel && !derivedLabel) {
     invariant(component, "requires aria-label when its label is not simple text.");
   }