diff --git a/src/node_device/node_device_driver.c b/src/node_device/node_device_driver.c
index ac50c96837..a59cd0875d 100644
--- a/src/node_device/node_device_driver.c
+++ b/src/node_device/node_device_driver.c
@@ -1650,9 +1650,6 @@ virMdevctlList(bool defined,
         return -1;
     }
 
-    if (!output)
-        return -1;
-
     return nodeDeviceParseMdevctlJSON(output, devs);
 }