diff --git a/net/mac80211/key.c b/net/mac80211/key.c
index 93ea03b86b80..0f889b919b06 100644
--- a/net/mac80211/key.c
+++ b/net/mac80211/key.c
@@ -793,7 +793,7 @@ int ieee80211_key_link(struct ieee80211_key *key,
 
 	/* Non-pairwise keys must also not switch the cipher on rekey */
 	if (!pairwise) {
-		if (key && old_key && old_key->conf.cipher != key->conf.cipher)
+		if (old_key && old_key->conf.cipher != key->conf.cipher)
 			goto out;
 	}