diff --git a/lib/rules/disallow-unused-variables.js b/lib/rules/disallow-unused-variables.js
index a437330ef..8a95108e9 100644
--- a/lib/rules/disallow-unused-variables.js
+++ b/lib/rules/disallow-unused-variables.js
@@ -67,7 +67,11 @@ module.exports.prototype = {
                         var grandparentElement = node.parentElement.parentElement;
 
                         return grandparentElement.type !== 'ExportNamedDeclaration';
-                    } else {
+                    } else if (
+                        node.parentElement.type === 'VariableDeclarator' ||
+                        node.parentElement.type === 'ObjectProperty' ||
+                        node.parentElement.isPattern
+                    ) {
                         return parentCheck(node.parentElement);
                     }
                 } else {
diff --git a/test/specs/rules/disallow-unused-variables.js b/test/specs/rules/disallow-unused-variables.js
index 4f5f60e5b..198957144 100644
--- a/test/specs/rules/disallow-unused-variables.js
+++ b/test/specs/rules/disallow-unused-variables.js
@@ -30,6 +30,16 @@ describe('rules/disallow-unused-variables', function() {
             .to.have.no.errors();
     });
 
+    it('should not report unused for function expressions', function() {
+        expect(checker.checkString('var z = function x() { }; z++;'))
+            .to.have.no.errors();
+    });
+
+    it('should not report unused for function params', function() {
+        expect(checker.checkString('var z = function x(f) { }; z++;'))
+            .to.have.no.errors();
+    });
+
     it('should not report unused variable defined with let within a function declaration', function() {
         expect(checker.checkString('function x() { let y=1; return y; }'))
             .to.have.no.errors();