diff --git a/src/netdev.c b/src/netdev.c
index af069724..5b79d267 100644
--- a/src/netdev.c
+++ b/src/netdev.c
@@ -2898,7 +2898,7 @@ static bool kernel_will_retry_auth(uint16_t status_code,
 
 static void netdev_ensure_eapol_registered(struct netdev *netdev)
 {
-	if (L_WARN_ON(netdev->sm))
+	if (netdev->sm)
 		return;
 
 	netdev->sm = eapol_sm_new(netdev->handshake);