diff --git a/fs/lockd/mon.c b/fs/lockd/mon.c
index 0a066a13478e..0792900b6281 100644
--- a/fs/lockd/mon.c
+++ b/fs/lockd/mon.c
@@ -288,8 +288,6 @@ struct nsm_handle *nsm_find(const struct sockaddr *sap, const size_t salen,
  */
 void nsm_release(struct nsm_handle *nsm)
 {
-	if (!nsm)
-		return;
 	if (atomic_dec_and_lock(&nsm->sm_count, &nsm_lock)) {
 		list_del(&nsm->sm_link);
 		spin_unlock(&nsm_lock);