diff --git a/net/atm/mpc.c b/net/atm/mpc.c
index 0e982222d425..3b3b1a292ec8 100644
--- a/net/atm/mpc.c
+++ b/net/atm/mpc.c
@@ -1007,7 +1007,7 @@ static int mpoa_event_listener(struct notifier_block *mpoa_notifier,
 	if (!net_eq(dev_net(dev), &init_net))
 		return NOTIFY_DONE;
 
-	if (dev->name == NULL || strncmp(dev->name, "lec", 3))
+	if (strncmp(dev->name, "lec", 3))
 		return NOTIFY_DONE; /* we are only interested in lec:s */
 
 	switch (event) {