diff --git a/semantic_version/base.py b/semantic_version/base.py
index 4ddaf05..057c1a4 100644
--- a/semantic_version/base.py
+++ b/semantic_version/base.py
@@ -206,11 +206,11 @@ def parse(cls, version_string, partial=False, coerce=False):
 
         major, minor, patch, prerelease, build = match.groups()
 
-        if _has_leading_zero(major):
+        if not coerce and _has_leading_zero(major):
             raise ValueError("Invalid leading zero in major: %r" % version_string)
-        if _has_leading_zero(minor):
+        if not coerce and _has_leading_zero(minor):
             raise ValueError("Invalid leading zero in minor: %r" % version_string)
-        if _has_leading_zero(patch):
+        if not coerce and _has_leading_zero(patch):
             raise ValueError("Invalid leading zero in patch: %r" % version_string)
 
         major = int(major)