diff --git a/lib/libzfs_core/libzfs_core.c b/lib/libzfs_core/libzfs_core.c
index 1e6bbcd561fa..7a71b7a54588 100644
--- a/lib/libzfs_core/libzfs_core.c
+++ b/lib/libzfs_core/libzfs_core.c
@@ -158,8 +158,7 @@ libzfs_core_fini(void)
 	(void) pthread_mutex_lock(&g_lock);
 	ASSERT3S(g_refcount, >, 0);
 
-	if (g_refcount > 0)
-		g_refcount--;
+	g_refcount--;
 
 	if (g_refcount == 0 && g_fd != -1) {
 		(void) close(g_fd);