diff --git a/geocoder/admin0/sql/build_synonym_table.sql b/geocoder/admin0/sql/build_synonym_table.sql
index d496e25..a4f1a2d 100644
--- a/geocoder/admin0/sql/build_synonym_table.sql
+++ b/geocoder/admin0/sql/build_synonym_table.sql
@@ -79,7 +79,8 @@ INSERT INTO admin0_synonyms (name, rank, adm0_a3)
 SELECT
     iso_a2, 8, adm0_a3
 FROM
-    ne_admin0_v3;
+    ne_admin0_v3
+ WHERE iso_a2 NOT LIKE '-99';
 
 -- insert subunit as name with a rank = 9    
 INSERT INTO admin0_synonyms (name, rank, adm0_a3)