diff --git a/lib/libedit/readline.c b/lib/libedit/readline.c
index 990270fc90ec..a7d13506a2bc 100644
--- a/lib/libedit/readline.c
+++ b/lib/libedit/readline.c
@@ -395,9 +395,6 @@ readline(const char *p)
 	char *buf;
 	static int used_event_hook;
 
-	if (line == NULL)
-		return 0;
-
 	if (e == NULL || h == NULL)
 		rl_initialize();