diff --git a/libnm-core/nm-setting-bond.c b/libnm-core/nm-setting-bond.c
index a654e65c39..ffcec1e9af 100644
--- a/libnm-core/nm-setting-bond.c
+++ b/libnm-core/nm-setting-bond.c
@@ -328,9 +328,6 @@ validate_ip (const char *name, const char *value)
 static gboolean
 validate_ifname (const char *name, const char *value)
 {
-	if (!value || !value[0])
-		return FALSE;
-
 	return nm_utils_ifname_valid_kernel (value, NULL);
 }