diff --git a/bin/named/controlconf.c b/bin/named/controlconf.c
index bab50ae8e0..6d6e4078d7 100644
--- a/bin/named/controlconf.c
+++ b/bin/named/controlconf.c
@@ -1256,10 +1256,8 @@ add_listener(named_controls_t *cp, controllistener_t **listenerp,
 			      "command channel listening on %s", socktext);
 		*listenerp = listener;
 	} else {
-		if (listener != NULL) {
-			listener->exiting = true;
-			free_listener(listener);
-		}
+		listener->exiting = true;
+		free_listener(listener);
 
 		if (control != NULL) {
 			cfg_obj_log(control, named_g_lctx, ISC_LOG_WARNING,