diff --git a/src/emu/device.cpp b/src/emu/device.cpp
index c2f98dba611..7af78e6a3f5 100644
--- a/src/emu/device.cpp
+++ b/src/emu/device.cpp
@@ -108,10 +108,6 @@ memory_share *device_t::memshare(const char *_tag) const
 
 memory_bank *device_t::membank(const char *_tag) const
 {
-	// safety first
-	if (this == nullptr)
-		return nullptr;
-
 	// build a fully-qualified name and look it up
 	return machine().memory().bank(subtag(_tag).c_str());
 }