diff --git a/sys/dev/arl/if_arl.c b/sys/dev/arl/if_arl.c
index f3495fb09ac5..9a69870ad51d 100644
--- a/sys/dev/arl/if_arl.c
+++ b/sys/dev/arl/if_arl.c
@@ -701,9 +701,6 @@ arl_init(xsc)
 
 	D(("init\n"));
 
-	if (TAILQ_EMPTY(&ifp->if_addrhead))
-		return;
-
 	s = splimp();
 
 	if (ARL_CHECKREG(sc))
diff --git a/sys/dev/cs/if_cs.c b/sys/dev/cs/if_cs.c
index 3b28691cc678..a10d25d7a0ec 100644
--- a/sys/dev/cs/if_cs.c
+++ b/sys/dev/cs/if_cs.c
@@ -699,10 +699,6 @@ cs_init(void *xsc)
 	struct ifnet *ifp = &sc->arpcom.ac_if;
 	int i, s, rx_cfg;
 
-	/* address not known */
-	if (TAILQ_EMPTY(&ifp->if_addrhead)) /* unlikely? XXX */
-		return;
-
 	/*
 	 * reset whatchdog timer
 	 */
diff --git a/sys/dev/ed/if_ed.c b/sys/dev/ed/if_ed.c
index 5bac677dc94d..9b7a0d4085e8 100644
--- a/sys/dev/ed/if_ed.c
+++ b/sys/dev/ed/if_ed.c
@@ -1884,10 +1884,6 @@ ed_init(xsc)
 	if (sc->gone)
 		return;
 
-	/* address not known */
-	if (TAILQ_EMPTY(&ifp->if_addrhead)) /* unlikely? XXX */
-		return;
-
 	/*
 	 * Initialize the NIC in the exact order outlined in the NS manual.
 	 * This init procedure is "mandatory"...don't change what or when
diff --git a/sys/dev/ex/if_ex.c b/sys/dev/ex/if_ex.c
index 9d8b9b069c49..c0a64e0b76cb 100644
--- a/sys/dev/ex/if_ex.c
+++ b/sys/dev/ex/if_ex.c
@@ -305,9 +305,6 @@ ex_init(void *xsc)
 
 	DODEBUG(Start_End, printf("%s: ex_init: start\n", ifp->if_xname););
 
-	if (TAILQ_FIRST(&ifp->if_addrhead) == NULL) {
-		return;
-	}
 	s = splimp();
 	ifp->if_timer = 0;
 
diff --git a/sys/dev/fe/if_fe.c b/sys/dev/fe/if_fe.c
index 613c76aacf41..ed89b5218f15 100644
--- a/sys/dev/fe/if_fe.c
+++ b/sys/dev/fe/if_fe.c
@@ -1007,14 +1007,6 @@ fe_init (void * xsc)
 	struct fe_softc *sc = xsc;
 	int s;
 
-	/* We need an address. */
-	if (TAILQ_EMPTY(&sc->sc_if.if_addrhead)) { /* XXX unlikely */
-#ifdef DIAGNOSTIC
-		printf("%s: init() without any address\n", sc->sc_xname);
-#endif
-		return;
-	}
-
 	/* Start initializing 86960.  */
 	s = splimp();
 
diff --git a/sys/dev/lnc/if_lnc.c b/sys/dev/lnc/if_lnc.c
index 52b54123b177..d3aabba17057 100644
--- a/sys/dev/lnc/if_lnc.c
+++ b/sys/dev/lnc/if_lnc.c
@@ -911,13 +911,6 @@ lnc_init(xsc)
 	int s, i;
 	char *lnc_mem;
 
-	/* Check that interface has valid address */
-
-	if (TAILQ_EMPTY(&sc->arpcom.ac_if.if_addrhead)) { /* XXX unlikely */
-printf("XXX no address?\n");
-		return;
-	}
-
 	/* Shut down interface */
 
 	s = splimp();
diff --git a/sys/dev/sbni/if_sbni.c b/sys/dev/sbni/if_sbni.c
index e4cacf2fd7ec..42c6573194bd 100644
--- a/sys/dev/sbni/if_sbni.c
+++ b/sys/dev/sbni/if_sbni.c
@@ -264,10 +264,6 @@ sbni_init(void *xsc)
 	sc = (struct sbni_softc *)xsc;
 	ifp = &sc->arpcom.ac_if;
 
-	/* address not known */
-	if (TAILQ_EMPTY(&ifp->if_addrhead))
-		return;
-
 	/*
 	 * kludge to avoid multiple initialization when more than once
 	 * protocols configured
diff --git a/sys/dev/sn/if_sn.c b/sys/dev/sn/if_sn.c
index f65aadaf90e5..57925fa866a6 100644
--- a/sys/dev/sn/if_sn.c
+++ b/sys/dev/sn/if_sn.c
@@ -215,24 +215,6 @@ sn_attach(device_t dev)
 
 	ether_ifattach(ifp, sc->arpcom.ac_enaddr);
 
-	/*
-	 * Fill the hardware address into ifa_addr if we find an AF_LINK
-	 * entry. We need to do this so bpf's can get the hardware addr of
-	 * this card. netstat likes this too!
-	 */
-	ifa = TAILQ_FIRST(&ifp->if_addrhead);
-	while ((ifa != 0) && (ifa->ifa_addr != 0) &&
-	       (ifa->ifa_addr->sa_family != AF_LINK))
-		ifa = TAILQ_NEXT(ifa, ifa_link);
-
-	if ((ifa != 0) && (ifa->ifa_addr != 0)) {
-		sdl = (struct sockaddr_dl *) ifa->ifa_addr;
-		sdl->sdl_type = IFT_ETHER;
-		sdl->sdl_alen = ETHER_ADDR_LEN;
-		sdl->sdl_slen = 0;
-		bcopy(sc->arpcom.ac_enaddr, LLADDR(sdl), ETHER_ADDR_LEN);
-	}
-
 	/*
 	 * Activate the interrupt so we can get card interrupts.  This
 	 * needs to be done last so that we don't have/hold the lock
diff --git a/sys/dev/wl/if_wl.c b/sys/dev/wl/if_wl.c
index 47ee64708024..d582b8f33458 100644
--- a/sys/dev/wl/if_wl.c
+++ b/sys/dev/wl/if_wl.c
@@ -806,8 +806,6 @@ wlinit(void *xsc)
     if (sc->wl_if.if_flags & IFF_DEBUG)
 	printf("wl%d: entered wlinit()\n",sc->unit);
 #endif
-    if (TAILQ_FIRST(&ifp->if_addrhead) == (struct ifaddr *)0)
-	return;
     WL_LOCK(sc);
     oldpri = splimp();
     if ((stat = wlhwrst(sc)) == TRUE) {
diff --git a/sys/dev/xe/if_xe.c b/sys/dev/xe/if_xe.c
index dfb35ee27c34..0d9eb921c52f 100644
--- a/sys/dev/xe/if_xe.c
+++ b/sys/dev/xe/if_xe.c
@@ -317,8 +317,6 @@ xe_init(void *xscp) {
   unsigned i;
   int s;
 
-  if (TAILQ_EMPTY(&scp->ifp->if_addrhead)) return;
-
   if (scp->autoneg_status != XE_AUTONEG_NONE) return;
 
   DEVPRINTF(2, (scp->dev, "init\n"));