diff --git a/block/blk-ioc.c b/block/blk-ioc.c
index 0380e33930e3..04f3d2b0ca7d 100644
--- a/block/blk-ioc.c
+++ b/block/blk-ioc.c
@@ -155,9 +155,6 @@ void put_io_context(struct io_context *ioc)
 	unsigned long flags;
 	bool free_ioc = false;
 
-	if (ioc == NULL)
-		return;
-
 	BUG_ON(atomic_long_read(&ioc->refcount) <= 0);
 
 	/*