The surface growth model, $u_t + u_{xxxx} + partial_{xx} u_x^2 =0$, is a one-dimensional fourth order equation, which shares a number of striking similarities with the three-dimensional incompressible Navier--Stokes equations, including the results regarding existence and uniqueness of solutions and the partial regularity theory. Here we show that a weak solution of this equation is smooth on a space-time cylinder $Q$ if the Serrin condition $u_xin L^{q}L^q (Q)$ is satisfied, where $q,qin [1,infty ]$ are such that either $1/q+4/q<1$ or $1/q+4/q=1$, $q<infty$.