diff --git a/fs/namei.c b/fs/namei.c
index d2783c8..dad4b80 100644
--- a/fs/namei.c
+++ b/fs/namei.c
@@ -1764,7 +1764,7 @@
 
 	path_to_nameidata(&path, &nd);
 	error = -EISDIR;
-	if (path.dentry->d_inode && S_ISDIR(path.dentry->d_inode->i_mode))
+	if (S_ISDIR(path.dentry->d_inode->i_mode))
 		goto exit;
 ok:
 	/*