diff --git a/src/ccstruct/blobbox.cpp b/src/ccstruct/blobbox.cpp
index 69596e5599..106921c0c7 100644
--- a/src/ccstruct/blobbox.cpp
+++ b/src/ccstruct/blobbox.cpp
@@ -103,7 +103,7 @@ void BLOBNBOX::merge(                    //merge blobs
 // Merge this with other, taking the outlines from other.
 // Other is not deleted, but left for the caller to handle.
 void BLOBNBOX::really_merge(BLOBNBOX* other) {
-  if (cblob_ptr != nullptr && other->cblob_ptr != nullptr) {
+  if (other->cblob_ptr != nullptr) {
     C_OUTLINE_IT ol_it(cblob_ptr->out_list());
     ol_it.add_list_after(other->cblob_ptr->out_list());
   }