diff --git a/lib/ssh.c b/lib/ssh.c
index c4a369997..2496e7cff 100644
--- a/lib/ssh.c
+++ b/lib/ssh.c
@@ -2347,8 +2347,8 @@ static CURLcode ssh_statemach_act(struct connectdata *conn, bool *block)
         }
         sshc->sftp_handle = NULL;
       }
-      if(sftp_scp)
-        Curl_safefree(sftp_scp->path);
+
+      Curl_safefree(sftp_scp->path);
 
       DEBUGF(infof(data, "SFTP DONE done\n"));