diff --git a/src/plugins/renderers/drm/plugin.c b/src/plugins/renderers/drm/plugin.c
index 56c9f898..9a04a8f5 100644
--- a/src/plugins/renderers/drm/plugin.c
+++ b/src/plugins/renderers/drm/plugin.c
@@ -1847,9 +1847,6 @@ open_input_source (ply_renderer_backend_t      *backend,
         if (!backend->input_source_is_open)
                 watch_input_devices (backend);
 
-        if (backend->terminal == NULL)
-                return false;
-
         if (backend->terminal != NULL) {
                 terminal_fd = ply_terminal_get_fd (backend->terminal);
 
diff --git a/src/plugins/renderers/frame-buffer/plugin.c b/src/plugins/renderers/frame-buffer/plugin.c
index 2ff76b43..553a4107 100644
--- a/src/plugins/renderers/frame-buffer/plugin.c
+++ b/src/plugins/renderers/frame-buffer/plugin.c
@@ -752,9 +752,6 @@ open_input_source (ply_renderer_backend_t      *backend,
         if (!backend->input_source_is_open)
                 watch_input_devices (backend);
 
-        if (backend->terminal == NULL)
-                return false;
-
         if (backend->terminal != NULL) {
                 terminal_fd = ply_terminal_get_fd (backend->terminal);