diff --git a/src/tools.c b/src/tools.c
index 49398ae3d..12481ce1e 100644
--- a/src/tools.c
+++ b/src/tools.c
@@ -4678,10 +4678,8 @@ char *memvprintf(char **out, const char *format, va_list orig_args)
 		ha_free(&ret);
 	}
 
-	if (out) {
-		free(*out);
-		*out = ret;
-	}
+	free(*out);
+	*out = ret;
 
 	return ret;
 }